CABINET OFFICE

Advisory Committees

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who is on the (a) advisory committees on justices of the peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, (b) Better Regulation Task Force and (c) Civil Service Appeals Board.

Douglas Alexander: Including sub-committees, there are 17 advisory Committees on justices of the peace in total in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Copies of membership have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Details of the current membership of the Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) is listed:
	David Arculus (Chair)
	Michael Gibbons
	Kevin Hawkins
	Sukhvinder Stubbs
	Tim Sweeney
	Rex Symons CBE
	Barbara Thomas
	Matti Alderson
	Stephen Falder
	Teresa Graham OBE
	Deirdre Hutton CBE
	Simon Petch
	Dr. Ian Peters
	Dr. Penelope Rowlatt
	Janet Russell
	Simon Ward
	Details of the membership of the Civil Service Appeals Board (CSAB) as at 31 March this year are set out as follows and can be found in the CSAB's Annual Report.
	The members of the Civil Service Appeals Board (CSAB) are:
	Chairman
	J. H. Davies
	Deputies
	M. E. G Fogden CB (ES) (OS)
	J. Sheldon (PCS) (SS)
	Official Side Members
	G. Bertram CB (DSS)
	Ms S. Brown (DTI)
	J. F. Carling (IR)
	P. S. Draper CB (PSA)
	E. McGivern CB (IR)
	D. W. Rayson (HMT)
	G. L. Reid CB (DfEE)
	A. Turner CBE (MOD)
	J. Turner CB (ES)
	I. Ward (Prison Service)
	Trade Union Side Members
	Mrs. C. Alderson (PCS)
	A. J. Audley (IPMS)
	Mrs. L. J. Clare (FDA)
	Mrs. P. Cryer (PTC)
	D. Evans (POA)
	Mrs. D. Hall (NUCPS)
	P. J. Kelly (PCS)
	T. Thomson (PCS)
	F. Winrow (IRSF)

Departmental Budgets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total budgets are of (a) the Social Inclusion Unit, (b) the Charter Mark and Beacon Unit, (c) Office of Public Services Reform, (d) Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (e) Public Service Team, (f) Performance and Innovation Unit, (g) Centre for Performance and Management Studies, (h) No. 10 Policy Directorate, (i) Government Information and Communication Service, (j) Economic and Domestic Secretariat, (k) Intelligence and Security Secretariat, (l) Civil Contingencies Secretariat, (m) Ceremonial Secretariat, (n) Central Secretariat, (o) Chief Scientific Adviser, (p) European Secretariat, (q) Defence and Overseas Secretariat, (r) Regulatory Impact Unit, (s) Central Policy Group, (t) Communication Group, (u) Corporate Services, (v) Women and Equality Unit and (w) Equality Secretariat, for (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: 2002–03 Resource Budgets for the units shown above are as follows:
	
		
			 Unit Resource budget (£ million) 
		
		
			 Office of Public Services Reform (including the Charter Mark and Beacon Scheme) 5.2 
			 Prime Minister's Delivery Unit 3.8 
			 Strategy Unit (formerly the Performance and Innovation Unit) 6.5 
			 No. 10 Policy Directorate 2.0 
			 Government Information and Communication Service 4.0 
			 Economic and Domestic Secretariat 1.3 
			 Intelligence and Security Secretariat 6.0 
			 Civil Contingencies Secretariat 6.8 
			 Ceremonial Secretariat 0.4 
			 Central Secretariat 3.4 
			 Defence and Overseas Secretariat 2 .1 
			 Regulatory Impact Unit 3 .1 
			 Communication Group 2.3 
			 Corporate Services Group 47.8 
			 Centre for Management and Policy Studies 2.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Social Exclusion Unit, Central Policy Group, Women and Equality Unit and Equality Secretariat are now part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	2. The Public Service Team and Chief Scientific Adviser are not part of the Cabinet Office.
	3. Budgets for 2003–04 and 2004–05 will be finalised following completion of the Cabinet Office's business planning round which is being carried out between now and March 2003.

E-Envoy

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) remuneration package and (b) grade is of (i) the e-Envoy and (ii) his deputy.

Douglas Alexander: The e-Envoy, Mr. Andrew Pinder, is employed in SCS Pay Band 3, for which the current salary range is £87,125 to £184,500; he is eligible to receive non-consolidated bonus awards based on performance throughout the year. He is also a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to which the employer and employee both contribute.
	His deputy, the Chief Operating Officer of the Office of the e-Envoy, Mr. Christopher Parker, is employed in SCS Pay Band 2, for which the current salary range is £70,725 to £148,625; he is eligible to receive non-consolidated bonus awards based on performance throughout the year. He is also a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to which the employer and employee both contribute.

Sir David Omand

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office to whom Sir David Omand reports.

Douglas Alexander: Sir David Omand reports to the Prime Minister through the Secretary of the Cabinet. As Security and Intelligence Co-Ordinator he is the senior official responsible for the co-ordination of activity across Government in relation to counter-terrorism and civil contingency preparations on which he directly supports the Home Secretary as chair of the relevant Cabinet Committees. As Accounting Officer for the Cabinet Office, Sir David supports the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Sir David Omand

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials, and at what levels and for what proportion of their time are working to Sir David Omand.

Douglas Alexander: As at 2 December 2002, there were 37 Senior Civil Servants and 724 other staff working in Cabinet Office units that report directly to Sir David Omand. All figures are rounded to full time equivalents.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Museums, Libraries and Archives

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the performance of the national strategic body for museums, libraries and archives; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Since its establishment in April 2000, Resource, The Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives has developed closer links between each of the sectors through the creation of regional agencies, and has published a vision for regional museums which has attracted £70 million central Government funding. It has managed the implementation of the People's Network ICT infrastructure in public libraries, which attracted £120 million Lottery funding. It has worked closely with my Department to develop a strategy for the public library service to be published soon and has set up an archives task force.

DEFENCE

Accident Inquiries

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, on accident inquiries, how many (a) boards of inquiry, (b) unit inquiries, (c) ship inquiries and (d) station inquiries have been convened in relation to accidents that have resulted in significant damage to buildings or equipment, or affected operational capability, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The number of RAF inquiries into accidents involving property or equipment between 1998 and 2002 is detailed in the table:
	
		
			 Year Board of inquiry (air accident) Boards of inquiry (equipment) Boards of inquiry (property) Boards of inquiry (opps efficiency) Unit inquiry (equipment) Unit inquiry (property) Unit inquiry (opp eff) 
		
		
			 1998 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1999 12 1 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 3 1 0 0 3 3 1 
			 2001 5 0 0 1 14 3 3 
			 2002 5 0 0 1 7 1 0 
			 Total 31 4 0 2 26 7 4 
			 
			  Total boards of inquiry 37  Total unit inquiry 37 
		
	
	Information concerning numbers of inquiries into accidents involving Royal Navy, Army and DLO property or equipment is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Challenger 2 Tanks

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's (a) requirement, (b) total number and (c) actual operating number is of (i) Challenger 2 tanks, (ii) AS90 and (iii) Lynx helicopters; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The requirement for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank is for six armoured regiments, each with a war establishment of 58 tanks, giving a total of 348 tanks. Further tanks are required for training and to maintain repair loops. The total number of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks is 386, with holdings split between units, the British Army Training Unit Suffield, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency, trials and development, in-depth repair and storage. Units do not normally hold all 58 tanks for which they are established on a day to day basis. More typically the six armoured regiments would hold 44 tanks each.
	The requirement for AS90 is for six regiments, giving a total of 126 guns. Further guns are required for training and to maintain repair loops. The total number of AS90 guns is 179, with holdings split between units, the British Army Training Unit Suffield, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency, trials and development, in-depth repair and storage. Typical unit holdings are either 24 or 18 guns, but, for operations, holdings would be reorganised to allow regiments of 32 guns to be deployed.
	The requirement for Lynx helicopters is for 117, of which 17 will be undergoing maintenance at any one time, giving an operating fleet of 100 helicopters deployed across the United Kingdom and overseas.

Challenger 2 Tanks

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the modifications that have been made to Challenger 2 tanks and how much these modifications cost, (b) the modifications are being made to Challenger 2 tanks and how much these modifications will cost, (c) further modifications to Challenger 2 tanks that his Department plans to make and how much he estimates these will cost and (d) when he expects modifications to be complete; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: In line with the practice for all major items of equipment, Post Design Service enabling arrangements have been placed with the Design Authority (DA) (now Alvis Vickers Ltd.) since Challenger 2 entered service. In addition to maintaining the design standard, these agreements allow modifications, ranging from minor adjustments of detailed build standard to significant changes to operational capability, to be considered. This enables specific contracts to be placed to undertake any necessary modification work. In line with this approach, a number of contracts have been placed recently in respect of modifications to Challenger 2 to improve its operation in desert conditions.
	I am withholding the specific details, cost and timescale of the modification work under Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Civilian Ships

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has in place for taking control of civilian ships should they be required in a war effort; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In order to meet our shipping needs in any future emergency, we would plan to charter civil shipping on the world-wide market to augment the capacity that our own ships give us. Where this is not possible, we would seek to use, where appropriate, either alternative types of ships or transport resources of allied or friendly nations or, as a last resort and in specific circumstances, we would requisition British shipping. Our assessment now is that there are currently enough military-useful British flagged merchant ships and United Kingdom seafarers to meet our defence needs. In concert with the Department of Transport, we continue to keep the situation under close scrutiny.

Communications Systems

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Bowman communications system will be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the Personal Role Radio.

Lewis Moonie: Bowman will provide a tactical, secure, voice and data communications system for all three Services in support of land and littoral operations from 2004, in place of the Clansman family of radios. Bowman is expected to continue in service for over 20 years.
	The Personal Role Radio was formally accepted into service in January 2002, two months earlier than forecast and within planned cost. This is a good example of Smart Acquisition and, as reported by the National Audit Office, the Royal Marines who used it on Exercise Saif Sareea II were delighted with its performance. It has also been used successfully in Afghanistan.

Dyn Corp

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the employment policies of Dyn Corp in relation to its tendering for an MOD contract.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely scrutinise the employment practices of companies tendering for MOD contracts, unless the transfer of public sector, or ex-public sector, employees out of the public sector under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations is likely to be involved. In these cases, the MOD will consider contractors' track records on previous TUPE transfers and employment relations issues as part of the general evaluation of proposals for managing staff issues, and within the framework of existing EU regulations.

Eurofighter

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast in-service date for the Eurofighter was on 1 December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The forecast in-service dates for the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the MOD's Major Projects, were as follows:
	(a) June 2002; (b) June 2002; (c) June 2002; (d) June 2002. The forecast in-service date on 1 December 2002 was June 2003.

Eurofighter

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast total cost of the Eurofighter project was on 1st December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The forecast total cost of the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the Ministry of Defence's Major Projects, is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) 14,649 
			 (b) 14,727 
			 (c) 18,832 
			 (d) 18,896 
			 (e) 18,663 
		
	
	These figures exclude support costs and reflect, from 2000, the conversion of the Department's accounts from a cash to a resource basis, introducing new cost elements such as interest on capital and depreciation.

Harrier

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what air defences the Royal Navy will have when the RN Sea Harrier is withdrawn from service;
	(2)  how much it will cost to upgrade the RAF Harrier to take over the role of the Sea Harrier when it is withdrawn from service; and what the capability shortfall is.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 21 May 2002 Official Report, columns 164–65W and 26 September 2002, Official Report, column 328W. In addition, I can confirm that the upgraded Sea King airborne early warning aircraft has now entered service with the Royal Navy.

Hercules

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what it would cost to move the Hercules C13J simulators from Lyneham to Brize Norton.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information. The information is commercially sensitive.

Legal Services

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 6W, on legal services, on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years the Ministry of Defence has paid for the defence of an individual charged with a criminal offence when the offence arose as a result of actions undertaken in the course of employment; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There has been no reason to collect these data therefore the information requested is not available.

Merlin Helicopters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government is on target to deliver the remainder of the 44 Royal Navy Merlin helicopters that are due for delivery by December 2002; what the in-service date is of those remaining aircraft; if he will outline the overall cost of the Merlin Helicopter Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: All 44 of the Royal Navy Merlin Mkl helicopters have been delivered. The final aircraft was delivered on 2 December 2002.
	The overall cost of the Merlin Mkl Helicopter programme is £4.183 billion.

Military Bases (Legal Officers)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of UK military bases have an independent legal officer on site; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Independent legal officers are not provided on military sites. Personnel may make use of a range of welfare and support services separate from the chain of command or they may raise complaints, to the Defence Council if necessary. They may also obtain legal advice privately if they wish.

Naval Operating Fleet

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by ship type, the Royal Navy's (a) required operating fleet, (b) total departmental fleet and (c) actual operating fleet, of ships owned or leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As of 4 December 2002, the details of Royal Navy ships, including ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are as follows:
	
		
			 Type Required operating fleet Total dept. fleet Actual operating fleet 
		
		
			 Aircraft Carriers 3 3 1 
			 Destroyers/Frigates 31 31 26 
			 AMPHIBIOUS 3 (1)1 (2)0 
			 Submarines (Trident) 4 4 3 
			 Submarine (Fleet) 12 12 6 
			 RFA 21 21 20 
			 Minehunters 22 22 17 
			 PATROL VESSELS 5 (3)4 5 
			 Patrol Craft 16 16 16 
			 ANTARCTIC PATROL SHIP 1 1 1 
			 SURVEY VESSELS 4 2 2 
		
	
	(1) Two in build.
	(2) HMS Ocean is expected to return to Fleet Time in mid December.
	(3) One in build.

Naval Vessels

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Navy vessels that are unfit for active duty; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 334–35W. This provides a list of the Royal Navy vessels currently in refit or undergoing repairs, and which are thus unavailable for active duty. In addition, HMS Nottingham will shortly arrive in the United Kingdom for repair and HMS Talent is along side awaiting the start of a planned refit in 1st quarter 2003.

Overseas Deployments

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are deployed overseas; and how many were overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: The figures for the average number of personnel from each Service deployed on Military Tasks overseas for the quarter ending 30 September 2002, the most recent figures available, are shown in the following table. Please note that the figures do not include personnel either preparing for or recovering from deployments on Military Tasks.
	
		Second quarter 2002–03 (July to September 2002)
		
			  Number Percentages of trained strength 
		
		
			 Navy (including Royal Marines) 3,888 10.4 
			 Army 8,783 8.6 
			 Air Force 3,841 7.9 
		
	
	The figures for personnel deployed overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years is not available in the required timescale. I will write to the hon.Member with the requested information and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

RAF Aircraft

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Tornado GR1/GR1A/GR1B/GR4/GR4A/F3, (b) Harrier GR7/T10, (c) Jaguar G1B/GR3/T2A, (d) Sentry, (e) Canberra, (f) Nimrod MR2/R1, (g) C-17A Globemaster, (h) Hercules C1/C3/C4/C5, (i) Tristar C2/K1/KC1, (j) Chinook HC2, (k) Puma, (l) Merlin, (m) Sea King, and (n) Wessex aircraft were (i) allocated to front-line units, (ii) fully serviceable, (iii) unserviceable 1st line, (iv) unserviceable 2nd line, (v) unserviceable 3rd or 4th line, (vi) on trials, (vii) held in reserve use and (viii) undergoing upgrade on 25th November; what percentage of the fleet size this represents for each category; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and will take some time to gather, collate and verify. I will write to the hon .Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

RGSR Respirator

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progess is being made in the production of the RGSR respirator for the Army; when it will be in service; what advantages it offers over other respirators; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: A decision on the award of the Assessment Phase contract for the Replacement General Service Respirator (RGSR) programme is planned for early 2003. On current plans, the equipment will enter service in the latter half of the decade. The RGSR will deliver enhanced protection levels, offer a reduced physiological burden for the user and afford improved integration with existing and future weapon systems.

Russia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO's future relations with Russia.

Geoff Hoon: NATO and Russia have for some time sought to enhance their relationship, in recognition of their mutual security interests. The establishment of the NATO-Russia Council at the Rome Summit on 28 May 2002 saw an historic transformation of that relationship, with the 19 NATO allies now working closely together with Russia as equal partners in 20 areas of common interest, such as combating terrorism, civil emergency planning and defence reform. Encouraging progress has already been made in its first six months and it is hoped that NATO and Russia can improve and expand this level of co-operation in 2003.

Russia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the Russian Minister of Defence.

Geoff Hoon: I last met Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, on 16 July in St. Petersburg.

Sea King

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the ASW Sea King Mk6 when it is taken out of service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Sea King Mark 6 Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft are being replaced progressively by the Westland/Agusta EH101 Merlin Mkl aircraft. Of the original fleet of 48 Sea King Mk 6, 13 are still in active service with the Royal Navy and as yet no decision has been made about their future, 22 have been re- designated as Ground Instructional Aircraft, six are undergoing conversion to MK6c to supplement the Sea King Helicopter Commando Mk4 fleet and seven are awaiting disposal.

Sonar 2087

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice has been given (a) in each environmental impact assessment prepared in relation to the Sonar 2087 project and (b) in the independent legal review conducted into the global environmental impact assessment prepared in relation to the Sonar 2087 project; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The global Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted in 2000 was the first EIA of Sonar 2087. It was carried out as part of the Assessment Phase of that project. It took account of legal advice provided by a lawyer who is an internationally recognised authority on the Law of the Sea. We also commissioned an independent review of the EIA, the legal aspects of which were conducted by a second distinguished independent legal authority. Both processes concluded that the intended operation of S2087 will comply with the relevant legislation at national, European and international level.
	To date, as part of the demonstration work, a single sea trial of S2087 using prototype equipment has taken place in the Bay of Biscay. The EIA for this trial recommended procedures specific to the area and concluded that these would meet the duties and obligations highlighted in the applicable environmental laws and policies.
	In accordance with Ministry of Defence policy we plan to keep legal and environmental aspects of the programme under review.

Sonar 2087

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Sonar 2087 project; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Some £100 million has been spent on this project up to the end of November, covering the Assessment Phase and the Demonstration, Manufacture and Support Phase to that date.

Strategic Sealift Programme

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the quarterly cost of the strategic sealift programme is; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The cost of strategic sealift varies according to the operational, overseas maintenance and exercise cornmitments of the Ministry of Defence. In the last full financial year 2001–02, the quarterly costs were approximately: £5.5 million, £10.8 million, £11.6 million and £6.2 million.

Strategic Sealift Programme

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what services have been provided under the strategic sealift (Ro-Ro) programme; what compensation arrangements exist for breaches in the PFI contract; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The purpose of the strategic sealift programme is to provide the Ministry of Defence with roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries for the transportation of military equipment. The PFI contract is with AWSR Shipping Ltd. The first ship, M.V. Hurst Point, has been delivered to AWSR and came into use in August.
	In the event of a breach, the PFI contract provides for MOD to be compensated by way of reduced payments or liquidated damages. Were there to be fundamental default, other arrangements would apply up to and including contract termination.

Thermobaric Weapons

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what thermobaric weapons the British Army uses; what assessment has been made of their capability; and if he will make a statement on the extension of the technology.

Lewis Moonie: There are no thermobaric weapons in service with the British Army and we have no plans to procure any. However, in view of the threat such weapons pose to our own forces (particularly when fighting in built-up areas or in caves), we are examining with industry the scope for technological advances in the area of enhanced blast explosives.
	An Anti Structures Munition programme, based on enhanced blast explosives technology, has been established, which seeks to offer a precision capability designed to minimise casualties, and will be fully in accordance with our obligations under international humanitarian law. Such a weapon is consistent with the conclusions reached in the SDR New Chapter White Paper, which called for increased emphasis on the need for precision in the face of force.

Warships

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the warship building industry in the UK; and what is being done to encourage competition.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is undertaking the largest programme of new warship building for many years. This programme will create or secure several thousand jobs in United Kingdom shipyards and ancillary industries throughout the country. The MOD recognises the considerable challenge for UK shipbuilders to maintain capacity and develop the skills required for the future warship building programme, against the background of a short term dip in the volume of work and an ageing workforce. The MOD will continue to work closely with the industry but it is primarily for the shipbuilders themselves to manage any short term workload gap. The MOD order book alone cannot be expected to sustain the industry.
	Competition remains the bedrock of the MOD's procurement policy and has been the keystone of our strategy for warship procurement. The present competition for the future aircraft carrier is an example of this. Maintaining acompetitive environment should also be helped by the decision to share work on the Type 45 destroyer between BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thorny croft, which has the advantage of keeping both shipbuilders involved in the Type 45 programme and potentially available to compete for future MOD and export programmes.
	The MOD, together with industry, will continue to review ways of making UK warship building more competitive and innovative, with the aim of enabling the shipbuilders to widen their customer base and identify other opportunities, for warship export orders in particular.

Warships

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the location is of (a) HMS Ark Royal, (b) HMS Illustrious, (c) HMS Invincible and (d) HMS Ocean; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The information is as follows:
	HMS Ark Royal is the current Fleet Flagship and is alongside in Portsmouth undergoing routine maintenance prior to her next deployment in February 2003.
	HMS Illustrious is in Rosyth undertaking a refit which is due to complete in early 2005.
	HMS Invincible is in Rosyth undertaking a refit which is due to complete in late spring 2003.
	HMS Ocean is in Devonport undertaking repairs following her Docking period in Portsmouth. She is expected to return to Fleet time this month.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Housing

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to alter the affordability rules to enable authorities in areas of high housing costs to build more affordable homes.

Tony McNulty: There are no specific rules that apply to the costs of new affordable homes built by local authorities. Where an authority decides to fund additional affordable housing it will generally provide better value for money to do this through a housing association.

Council Tax

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum amount is that the abolition of 50 per cent. discount council tax on (a) second and (b) empty homes will raise; what proportion (i) billing and (ii) precepting authorities will be able to retain; how a distinction between empty and abandoned homes will be made; and what the estimated compliance costs are of these changes.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) announced on 19 November 2002 that the Government intend to allow English local authorities discretion to reduce council tax discounts on second homes from 50 per cent. to a minimum of 10 per cent. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has decided not to remove the discount completely because owners need an incentive to inform the local authority that properties are second homes. Without such information, it would not be possible to identify the extra revenue which could be raised from changing the discount. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also announced that we intend to allow English local authorities to reduce or remove completely the current 50 per cent. council tax discounts on long-term empty dwellings. In either case, the billing authority may determine to change the discount in all or part of its area.
	Authorities where the second homes discount has been reduced will benefit from any additional council tax raised: we do not propose to reduce their revenue support grant to take account of their greater tax raising ability. If all authorities reduced the second home discounts to 10 per cent., this could potentially raise around £65 million. If all authorities removed the empty home discounts completely, this could raise a further £160 million.
	The benefit of the additional revenue resulting from a reduction in the second homes discount would be shared with the major precepting authorities. The proportions which would go to billing authorities and to major precepting authorities will vary from location to location, depending on the proportion of the council tax bill in an area which goes to major precepting authorities, and different authorities' decisions about how the discount should be applied. The compliance costs will depend on how individual billing authorities decide to change the discounts.

Devolution

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Government spent on start-up costs for the (a) National Assembly for Wales and (b) Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Expenditure by the former Welsh Office on preparations for the National Assembly for Wales was £2.7 million. This includes the costs of the current interim Assembly building, the new building and the costs of staff directly attributed to the preparations for the Assembly. There were additional staff costs across the Welsh Office associated with the preparations for the Assembly but these are not separately identifiable.
	Expenditure by the former Scottish Office on preparations for the Scottish Parliament was £13.4 million. These figures relate to costs for the current interim Parliament building, the new building (including purchase of the site) and those staff costs that can be directly attributed to preparations for the Scottish Parliament. There were other staff costs associated with preparations for the Parliament or on devolution generally involving staff working across most areas of the Scottish Office, but this expenditure was not recorded separately.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the projected expenditure is for each of the next five years on disabled facilities grants; and what has been spent to date in this financial year in disabled facilities grants;
	(2)  what plans he has for legislation to simplify the way in which grant aid for disabled adaptations are managed;
	(3)  what has been spent on disabled facilities grants in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  what the average waiting time between assessment and completion in each local authority has been in 2001–02 for householders requesting disabled adaptations in their homes;
	(5)  how many households are waiting for adaptation grants to meet their disability needs in each local authority.

Tony McNulty: The Government meets 60 per cent. of the total cost of local authority expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), with the remaining 40 per cent. being met from elsewhere in local authorities budgets. The Government has, as of 15 November 2002, paid local housing authorities £66.5 million in the financial year 2002–03 in respect of their expenditure on DFGs. My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, is currently considering the allocation of funding for the three years to 2005–06, and the Government's contribution towards projected local authority expenditure on DFGs will be announced at the turn of the year.
	The Government has no plans to further amend the legislation on the provision of housing adaptations for the disabled. The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England & Wales) Order 2002 came into force on 18 July 2002, and provides English and Welsh local housing authorities with wide discretionary powers to provide assistance for the repair, improvement or adaptations of housing. This power can be used to provide additional financial help to a disabled person over and above any mandatory entitlement to a DFG.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Health are jointly preparing comprehensive guidance to local authorities on best practice in the organisation and delivery of a housing adaptations service for disabled people. This guidance will be issued in draft for consultation very shortly.
	Total Disabled Facilities Grants payments made by English local authorities over the last 10 years are:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1992–93 64.96 
			 1993–94 74.91 
			 1994–95 90.53 
			 1995–96 97.53 
			 1996–97 99.75 
			 1997–98 100.41 
			 1998–99 107.10 
			 1999–2000 116.42 
			 2000–01 130.70 
			 2001–02 145.10 
		
	
	The Government does not collect data either on the average waiting time for DFG, or the number of households waiting for such a grant.

Empty Properties

Adam Price: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many unoccupied domestic properties there are in the UK; and how many are in the ownership of local authorities.

Tony McNulty: The total number of vacant dwellings in England at 1 April 2001 (latest available data) was 755,100. Of those vacant dwellings, 80,300 were in the ownership of local authorities.
	Many of these vacant dwellings are transitional vacants (eg they may be in the process of being bought or sold). The breakdown below shows numbers of vacant dwellings by tenure and the number of dwellings that have been vacant for more than six months at 1 April 2001.
	
		
			  Total dwellings vacant  at 1 April 2001 of which: vacant for more than six months 
		
		
			 Local authority 80,300 31,500 
			 Registered Social Landlord 41,300 14,900 
			 'Other' public sector 10,900 (4)— 
			 'Other' private sector 622,600 310,200 
			 Total 755,100 (4)— 
		
	
	(4) Not collected.
	Note:
	All figures rounded to the nearest 100.
	Sources:
	All data from ODPM Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns except for data on RSLs obtained from the Housing Corporation's 2001 Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR)
	For information about other parts of the UK I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Members for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), for Neath (Peter Hain) and for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell).

Homes (Key Workers)

John Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) teachers and (b) further education college lecturers have benefited from the starter home initiative for key workers; and if he will make a statement on policy towards further education lecturers.

Tony McNulty: The funding available to assist teachers into home ownership under the Starter Home Initiative is targeted at teachers in schools ie the Secondary School sector. To date over 700 teachers have purchased homes under the Initiative that they would otherwise have been unable to afford.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that other key workers, including further education lecturers, need to be able to find affordable homes within a reasonable distance of their work place. Our wider housing policies to increase the supply of affordable homes in areas where demand is high will benefit other groups of key workers. In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be looking at ways to extend our existing programmes for affordable housing through greater partnership with employers and with public and private sector landlords.
	Early in the new year my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will set out in his Communities Plan a long term programme of action for housing and sustainable communities. This will address affordable housing issues, including key worker housing.

Homes for Life

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for designing bathrooms with level access showers as part of the Homes for Life programme.

Christopher Leslie: Part M of the Building Regulations was amended in 1999 to require reasonable provision for access for disabled people to visit friends and family in new homes. All new homes built in England and Wales on the basis of building control applications submitted after 25 October 1999 have had to comply with the new requirements. Currently, these do not require the installation of showers with level access. The various Parts of the Building Regulations are however kept under review.
	Some social housing funding authorities require, in addition, compliance with the Lifetime Homes standards promoted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which is a charitable organisation. The Lifetime Homes programme aims to produce homes that are suitable for fully independent living by disabled people, and principally by wheelchair users. The Lifetime Homes Standard however only calls for drainage provision to enable a shower to be fitted in the future.

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish his Department's review of the Index of Multiple Deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Roche: The project to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000 is being conducted in three stages. The Stage One Consultation Report has recently been published. Stage Two will result in a blueprint setting out detailed proposals for updating the indicators and domains while Stage Three will result in the updated Index. It is expected that the final updated index would be published in summer 2003.

Local Authority Expenditure

Steve Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the amount of spending per head by each all-purpose local authority in the current financial year.

Christopher Leslie: The spending per head for each all-purpose local authority in the year 2002–03 has been set out in a table and placed in the Library of the House.

New Towns

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what research has been undertaken to examine the effects of clawback on the sale of assets in the new towns;
	(2)  what research has been undertaken to examine the extra costs of housing renewal and regeneration in new towns subject to simultaneous ageing;
	(3)  what research has been undertaken to ascertain the extra costs falling upon local authorities from new towns designed on the Radburn principle.

Tony McNulty: In its response to the recent Select Committee report on New Towns, the Government undertook that, subject to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funding, a review would be undertaken. This would examine a number of aspects of the New Towns, which would include all the issues mentioned by my hon. Friend. The review would involve consultation with the relevant local authorities.

Planning

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning appeals for developments with densities greater than the local planning authority considered reasonable have been allowed in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: Information on planning appeals in the form requested is not available. The table sets out for the last three years the number of allowed appeals for residential development where 'over-development' was recorded as an issue. Over-development encompasses a number of amenity concerns arising from the proposed layout.
	
		
			 Period Number decided Number allowed Number allowed where over development was an issue  
		
		
			 1999–2000 4,134 1,197 82 
			 2000–01 4,715 1,419 113 
			 2001–02 4,803 1,429 102

Planning System Documents

Debra Shipley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether he requires the documents By Design and By Design: Better Places to Live to be material considerations in the planning system;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the guidance in (a) By Design and (b) By Design: Better Places to Live is reflected in local authority plan-making.

Tony McNulty: By Design and By Design: Better Places to Live are guides to better practice supporting Government policy on urban design and housing set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 1 and 3. They should be taken into account in preparing development plans and planning applications and may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals. My right. hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister is a statutory consultee in the preparation of development plans and can make objections when there are conflicts with national guidance which do not appear to be justified by local circumstances. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also has powers of intervention to direct that plan proposals should be modified before adoption.

Special Advisers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers were employed in his Department in (a) May and (b) November.

Christopher Leslie: At the end of May 2002 when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created, the Office employed three full-time equivalent special advisers. In November 2002 the Office employed 2.8 full-time equivalent special advisers.

Standard Spending Assessment Grant

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been paid to Charnwood borough council in SSA grant to compensate for student houses in multi-occupancy in the present financial year.

Nick Raynsford: The present SSA formula for Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services contains three housing deprivation indicators but none relates specifically to students. In addition, local authorities are compensated through revenue support grant for council tax income lost from properties that are exempt from council tax because they are occupied only by students.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Beacon Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of Beacon schools in raising school standards; what guidance he gives on the circumstances in which it is appropriate to close a beacon school and whom the authorities should consult; and how many beacon schools have been closed.

David Miliband: By building partnerships, Beacon schools have been supporting other schools to raise overall standards of pupil attainment and to close the gap between the best and lower performing schools. Independent evaluation has shown benefits of Beacon activity in terms of improved practice and raised standards through professional development. In the case of Beacon schools, as with all schools, the Department takes the view that closure is a matter for local public consultation and decision-making. The Department does not have a role in this process. So far, three Beacon schools have been closed as a result of local reorganisations.

Disabled Students

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to provide assistance to schools to help them ensure that their course materials are accessible to disabled students in the next year.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Schools and local education authorities are required to plan strategically to increase progressively over time the accessibility of schools to disabled pupils. This includes increasing access to schools premises and facilities, to the curriculum and to written information in alternative formats—including Braille and audio-tape. The first accessibility plans must be in place by April 2003 and will run for a period of three years.
	Funding is available to local education authorities through the Schools Access Initiative to make schools more accessible to children with disabilities and special educational needs. £70 million is available this year. This will increase to £100 million a year for the next financial years 2003–04 to 2005–06.
	Improving access to schools for disabled pupils is an integral part of local education authority planning and asset management and funds for improving school access are part of a much larger block of funds for capital expenditure of some £8.5 billion, which we are making available over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Free School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools in the top 10 per cent. of those with the greatest number of children who receive free school meals.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The information requested cannot be provided as it is the Department's current policy not to publish figures about individual schools without their prior agreement.

Mixed-age Teaching

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has done on the effects of mixed-age teaching in primary schools.

David Miliband: The Department is not currently undertaking research on this subject. Previous research has shown that there are a number of positive benefits for primary school pupils in mixed-age classes. These include the opportunity to form wider friendships and for younger pupils to learn from their contemporaries, more individualised teaching, and the opportunity for pupils with differing ability to provide intellectual stimulation for each other. The research does not find positive effects for attainment. However, there appears to be no negative impact on pupil attainment of what is known as vertical grouping. Teachers tend to be more negative about mixed-age classes, believing them to create more work and complicate classroom management.

NVQs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have received free tuition to study national vocational qualifications in (a) plumbing, (b) bricklaying, (c) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (d) painting and decorating and (e) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses.

Ivan Lewis: The question asks about free tuition on NVQ courses. The information available does not discriminate between those who get full and partial fee remission. The following figures therefore include both.
	In 2000–01 in further education sector colleges in England, tuition fees were waived (fully or partially) for:
	(a) 1,704 learners on NVQs in plumbing.
	(b) 1,155 learners on NVQs in bricklaying.
	(c) there are no qualifications entitled Xbridge to construction" or Xintermediate construction" in the NVQ framework.
	(d) 690 learners on NVQs in painting and decorating.
	(e) 3,168 learners on NVQs in wood related occupations.
	In 1999–2000 in further education sector colleges in England, tuition fees were waived (fully or partially) for:
	(a) 1,376 learners on NVQs in plumbing.
	(b) 989 learners on NVQs in bricklaying.
	(c) there are no qualifications entitled Xbridge to construction" or Xintermediate construction" in the NVQ framework.
	(d) 602 learners on NVQs in painting and decorating.
	(e) 2,414 learners on NVQs in wood related occupations.

NVQs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many tutors were employed in further education colleges teaching national vocational qualifications in (a) plumbing, (b) bricklaying, (c) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (d) painting and decorating and (e) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses;
	(2)  how many tutors were recruited to teach national vocational qualifications in (a) plumbing, (b) bricklaying, (c) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (d) painting and decorating and (e) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses; how many tutors in each category left their posts; and what average length of time served by further education tutors in each category was, in each year.

Margaret Hodge: Information on tutors in FE teaching national vocational qualifications is available only for broad subject levels.
	In 2000–01 there were 3,623 tutors teaching construction in FE colleges in England.
	Information on the recruitment of tutors in FE, their retention and average length of time in employment is not available.

Prison Education Courses

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much was available in each prison for education courses in each year since 1995 at current prices; and what the percentage increase was in each year;
	(2)  what percentage of the prison population were engaged in education courses in each prison in each year since 1995; and how much funding has been provided per head of population of each prison for education courses in each year since 1995.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The information available has been provided in the form of a table, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

School Closures

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received concerning the closure of schools in South Shields; and if he will place these in the Library.

David Miliband: The Secretary of State and his Department have received 16 letters from Headteachers, School Governors, parents and members of the public about South Tyneside local education authority's proposals for the reorganisation of primary education.

Truancy

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children who truanted from school in 2001–02 gained one or more GCSEs.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 4 December 2002
	The only available source of data on the GCSE attainment of young people who truanted from school is the Youth Cohort Study (YCS).
	The latest data available from the YCS are for people who took their GCSEs in the summer of 1999. This shows that of those who occasionally truanted during year 11, 95 per cent. reported gaining at least one GCSE, of those who persistently truanted during year 11, 79 per cent. reported gaining at least one GCSE.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Furazolidone

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the nitrofuran antibiotic furazolidone is banned for use in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Furazolidone is included in Annex IV of Council Directive 2377/90EC, so its administration to food-producing animals is banned, both in the UK, and in the European Community. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) run two surveillance schemes for residues of veterinary medicines and banned substances in UK-produced and imported produce. These are overseen by the independent Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC).
	In 2001, the VMD analysed 453 samples of bovine, pig and sheep kidney; and 58 samples of eggs for furazolidone under their statutory surveillance programme for UK produce. A further 86 samples of animal feed were analysed for nitrofurans. All samples were free of detectable residues of these compounds.

Auction Marts

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the role of auction marts in increased bio-security.

Elliot Morley: Livestock auction markets have an important role in the marketing of farm animals between the various stages of production. However, markets do pose a risk of disease spread through mixing and dispersal of animals during market operations. The Department has sought to mitigate this risk through rules on bio-security at markets, and controls over the movement of animals to and from market premises.

Bovine TB

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation is being relied upon by her Department in respect of the possible link between badgers and the spread of bovine tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	A badger culling field trial is being carried out as part of DEFRA's extensive bovine tuberculosis (TB) research programme. The trial was designed by the Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) to evaluate what role, if any, badgers play in the transmission of bovine TB to cattle and whether badger culling is an effective or sustainable bovine TB control mechanism. It will provide epidemiological data on the occurrence and prevalence of TB in badgers, its relationship to population density and social group size and the spatial relationship between TB-infected badgers and TB breakdowns in cattle herds.
	The ISG advise that it is too early for a full analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. It has however been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.

Climate Change

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with her EU counterparts on proposals to introduce legislation concerning climate change; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I have regular discussions with my EU counterparts on climate change issues.
	Last year we agreed Council conclusions on the European Commission's communication on the European Climate Change Programme. More recently we have discussed the European Commission's proposal for a Directive to establish a Community greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme. I will be discussing this again at the Environment Council on 9 and 10 December.
	We are also discussing with the commission the preparation of legislation on reducing emissions of fluorinated gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) that also fall under the Kyoto Protocol.

Climate Change

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) schemes and (b) bodies her Department contributes funding to which are concerned with climate change.

Michael Meacher: The main schemes for which my Department provides funding are the UK Emissions Trading Scheme the New Home Energy Efficiency scheme (or Warm Front) and the Community Energy Programme. The main bodies for which my Department provides funding are the Carbon Trust, the Energy Saving Trust, the Hadley Centre, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (core budget and trust funds), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Greentie and the OECD Annex 1 expert group.

Climate Change

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the sector associations party to a Climate Change Levy umbrella agreement have supplied her with information specified in Schedule 3 of those agreements; what the dates were of each supply; and which of those sector associations have supplied her with information specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 of those agreements.

Michael Meacher: Under clause 6.5 of the umbrella agreements, sector associations are not required to submit information specified in either Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 3 for the first target period until 31 January 2003, extended by agreement to 17 February. No such information has yet been supplied by sector associations, though data has been received for the single company agreement under paragraph 47 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000.

Coffee Market

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to support the working of the international market in coffee.

Elliot Morley: The UK is a member, through the EU, of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), a United Nations body established to, among other things, Xachieve a reasonable balance between world supply and demand on a basis which will assure adequate supplies of coffee at fair prices to consumers and markets for coffee at remunerative prices to producers . . . to facilitate the expansion and transparency of international trade in coffee".
	A major plank of the organisation's current activity is a Coffee Quality Improvement Programme. Introduced on 1 October 2002, it requires exports of unprocessed coffee from member countries to comply with minimum quality standards. This should have a positive effect upon supply and demand and, in turn, producer prices. Discussions are also under way within the organisation about how exports of processed coffee should be dealt with.
	The Government are also helping coffee growers to diversify, through our development programme, and promoting foreign investment and good regulatory frameworks in coffee-growing countries.
	In a wider context, on the WTO front, we are committed to further liberalisation of markets, including significant improvements in market access and special and differential treatment for developing countries. This should also benefit coffee growers.
	We are seeking to expand the trade opportunities of commodity-dependent countries through, for example, cutting import tariffs to reduce the negative impact of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Energy Efficiency

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what corrections to energy efficiency targets resulting from correction to baseline data she has discussed with sector associations; if she will specify the provisions of the umbrella agreements and underlying agreements under which such corrections are permitted; and what discussions or correspondence she has had with such associations concerning failure to meet such targets.

Michael Meacher: The Secretary of State has discussed several variations to energy efficiency targets resulting from corrections to baseline data with sector associations. Further to my answer of 7 November, the agreements are to be varied to provide for corrections to targets resulting from corrections to baseline data. The text of the variation has not yet been agreed. The Secretary of State has yet to receive information from the sector associations about the performance of the facilities covered by the agreements during the first target period. Accordingly the Secretary of State is not yet in a position to ascertain whether there has been any failure to meet such targets.

Enriched Laying Cages

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost to egg producers of a ban on the use of enriched laying cages in England; what plans she has to provide financial assistance to egg producers in the event of such a ban; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: A partial regulatory impact assessment was included in the public consultation about a possible ban on enriched cages and is being considered again in the light of responses received. The CAP regime for this sector is a light one and no grants are currently available.

Enriched Laying Cages

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on a proposed ban on the use of enriched egg laying cages in England.

Elliot Morley: The Department has received over 1,000 responses to the public consultation from the general public, industry and animal welfare organisations.

Farm Holdings

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average size of farm is, broken down by (a) category and (b) region.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The information given is shown in the table:
	
		Average farm size in hectares by region and farm type—England 2001
		
			  Farm type 
			 Region Cereals General cropping Horticulture Specialist pigs Specialist poultry 
		
		
			 North East 154.8 217.7 8.5 14.5 45.2 
			 North West 101.6 75.7 5.7 10.2 22.0 
			 Merseyside 63.4 86.0 6.7 9.0 1.2 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 103.0 159.9 6.7 21.0 11.9 
			 East Midlands 138.1 150.8 7.6 12.9 8.0 
			 West Midlands 103.0 140.0 12.4 13.4 11.3 
			 East of England 129.8 153.1 8.8 14.2 9.5 
			 Greater London 99.9 81.2 5.5 24.4 13.8 
			 South East 174.5 152.1 16.7 25.2 11.1 
			 South West 135.5 100.1 9.2 15.4 11.9 
			 England 131.9 145.3 10.5 16.6 13.2 
			   
			  Mixed pigs and poultry Dairy—LFA Dairy—Lowland Specialist sheep—SDA Specialist beef—SDA 
			 North East 20.6 70.1 81.9 213.3 67.4 
			 North West 12.2 82.7 76.6 108.2 37.7 
			 Merseyside 0.0 0.0 105.1 0.0 0.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 22.6 84.1 72.0 115.2 35.4 
			 East Midlands 37.8 77.4 79.5 126.8 45.4 
			 West Midlands 3.7 57.0 78.5 39.7 33.6 
			 East of England 15.4 0.0 75.6 0.0 0.0 
			 Greater London 0.0 0.0 117.5 0.0 0.0 
			 South East 3.5 0.0 109.0 0.0 0.0 
			 South West 8.1 75.2 88.9 60.1 60.2 
			 England 15.2 77.0 84.4 116.7 44.1 
			   
			  Mixed cattle and sheep—SDA Cattle and sheep—DA Cattle and sheep (Lowland) Mixed Other types 
			 North East 198.1 74.5 56.2 165.7 17.5 
			 North West 109.1 40.5 28.3 55.7 18.0 
			 Merseyside 0.0 0.0 40.1 57.7 8.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 109.9 50.3 24.7 83.4 9.7 
			 East Midlands 72.8 42.9 28.4 109.9 6.5 
			 West Midlands 86.7 26.1 28.2 98.0 7.4 
			 East of England 0.0 0.0 26.6 102.0 8.8 
			 Greater London 0.0 0.0 30.5 81.1 13.6 
			 South East 0.0 0.0 33.4 140.7 11.4 
			 South West 120.2 43.9 33.2 101.9 8.5 
			 England 125.6 42.1 31.0 105.1 10.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Xother types" category includes some holdings which are not currently undertaking any agricultural activity.
	2. Farm type is designated by the predominant activity on the holding. This is calculated using the Standard Gross Margin (SGM). The total SGM for each farm is calculated by multiplying its crop areas and livestock numbers by the appropriate SGM coefficients and then summing the result for all enterprises on the farm. For example, if more than two thirds of a holding's total SGM is derived from cereals and other crops generally found in cereal rotations (eg oilseeds, peas and beans harvested dry and land set-aside) the holding will be put in the cereals farm type category.
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what United Kingdom legislation will restrict the number of days at sea for fishing vessels capturing and landing cod from 1 January 2003; whether amendments to legislation are necessary to achieve Government objectives; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 December 2002
	No decision has been made as to the means by which any limit on days at sea required by EU legislation would be implemented in the UK.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many qualified valuers were paid (a) per day and (b) per valuation during the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: During the foot and mouth outbreak, qualified valuers were paid on a per day basis, not on a per valuation basis. Therefore, the Department does not have a record of the number of valuers broken down into these two categories. There are a number of legal disputes with valuers who are claiming on a per valuation basis.

Herbal Medicines

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government are doing to control the sale of endangered animal parts for eastern herbal medicines.

Elliot Morley: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which regulates trade in endangered species of animals and plants, is strictly implemented in the UK under both European and National legislation. Medicines derived from species listed in the Appendices to the Convention need an import permit issued by my Department before they can enter the country. Permits will not normally be issued for products containing the most endangered species, which are listed on the Convention's Appendix I. As a result any products that are derived from, or even claim to be derived from, Appendix I specimens taken from the wild will not normally be allowed on sale in the UK.
	CITES is actively enforced in the UK by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Police who work together with my Department, other Government Departments and certain non-governmental organisations in the Government's Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime. My Department produces general guidance on the Convention and maintains a dedicated website on CITES implementation in the UK. We have also worked with the enforcement agencies to produce specialist material including leaflets, posters and videos aimed directly at Britain's Chinese speaking community. We are also currently funding, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), research into the use of alternatives to replace certain endangered species contained in traditional medicines.

Horticulture Research International

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will end the moratorium imposed on Horticulture Research International regarding scientific staff; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Horticulture Research International (HRI) is in a loss-making situation. Following discussions with Defra, HRI agreed to introduce a moratorium on staff recruitment to help contain its operating costs. HRI will fill vacant posts by external recruitment only where such posts are essential to its business and where it has been unable to fill them through internal redeployment.
	The Department considers that this is a financially responsible course of action. The moratorium will be reviewed in due course in the light of HRI's financial situation and the decisions which the Department expects to take shortly about the future of the organisation.

Livestock Sales

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the relative number of (a) beef, (b) dairy and (c) sheep sales being concluded (i) through a registered auction mart and (ii) by private farm-to-farm sale in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: The available data are shown in the table. Livestock markets were disrupted by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001, and the last three years for which data are available are 1998–2000. They include livestock sold for slaughter and farm-to-farm sales through markets. No data are available within my Department for Northern Ireland, for the split between beef and dairy cattle, or for private farm-to-farm sales.
	
		Throughput through livestock auction markets in Great Britain
		
			  1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Cattle (including dairy) 2,455 2,483 2,422 
			 Calves 523 454 436 
			 Sheep 17,060 17,564 17,596 
			 Total 20,038 20,501 20,454 
		
	
	Source:
	The Livestock Auctioneers' Association.

Meat Imports (South Africa)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Government did not ban meat imports from South Africa between September 2000 and January 2001.

Elliot Morley: On 21 September 2000 the European Commission was notified of limited outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in sixteen provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The South African authorities took effective action by imposing their own export ban on meat from the infected areas. At the time the Government was content with this situation as meat from the area could not be exported.
	On 17 November the Commission amended Community legislation to formally prohibit the import of fresh meat from the affected areas. This reflected the self-imposed South African ban. Prior to this the Commission had not taken any action. Records show that after 21 September 2000 there were no imports of meat from South Africa into the United Kingdom.
	On 20 December 2000 the Commission reported that there had been no change in the disease situation. In view of this we reviewed our action and issued a Declaration under Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Importer and Export) Regulations 1996 on 5 January 2001 prohibiting all fresh meat of FMD susceptible species from the whole of South Africa unless it was produced before 15 September 2000. A note explaining the situation was sent to trade interests on 8 January, as was a letter to all Border Inspection Posts at ports and airports. Scotland and Northern Ireland took similar action shortly afterwards.
	Since then the Government has followed a policy of issuing such a Declaration whenever a suspension of imports is necessary, even in advance of Community action.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Alun Michael: Since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002 Official Report 1374 75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total remuneration is of the Chairman of the Parrett Catchment Project.

Elliot Morley: The Parrett Catchment Project is an independent body. As advised in my reply to the Member's previous question, no salary is paid by the project to the Chairman. I understand that he is currently entitled to a fee of £150 per day for his work on the project.
	Up to June 2001, I am advised that the Chairman received no fees or expenses from the Project.
	From June 2001 to the end of June 2002, I understand that he was paid £3,000 in fees, a £1,000 honorarium for extra-contractual work on the successful Intereg 3 bid for EU funds, and £724 in expenses.
	He has received no payments for fees or expenses since the 1 of July 2002.

Pigswill

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact upon business of the ban on pigswill; and what compensation her Department is providing to pigswill producers to compensate them for losses brought about by the ban.

Elliot Morley: In March 2001 during the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the proposal to ban swill feeding was the subject of a full public consultation and Regulatory Impact Assessment. A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the Animal By Products (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2001 No. 1704) is available in the Library of the House.
	The Government does not intend to compensate pig farmers for changes to the feed material available for their livestock following the introduction of the ban on swill feeding. However the Government is providing free business advice to those affected by the ban.

Animal Movement Restrictions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the application of the 20-day standstill period where the designated 20 days are exceeded relating to farm to farm sales; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We receive many varied representations about different aspects of the 20-day standstill rule. The current movement rules, including the standstill, apply to animals sold from farm to farm as well as to other types of movements.

Animal Movement Restrictions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the practicality of the exemption to the 20-day standstill rule granted to farmers in the form of a DEFRA licence for specialised calf rearing units; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We receive many varied representations on all aspects of the 20-day standstill rule. The movement of calves under 30-days-old with full passports does not trigger a 20-day standstill on specialist calf rearing units which have been approved by the Divisional Veterinary Manager. Specialist calf rearing units do not require a licence.

Veterinary Practices

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 21 November 2002, Official Report, column 300W, what measures she is taking to (a) identify veterinary practices and surgeries operating without being registered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and (b) ensure that (i) non-registered veterinary practices and surgeons and (ii) others are not involved in working with animals.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 December 2002
	The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is obliged under the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners Registration Regulations to maintain and publish a register of all veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK. However, under the Regulations, the RCVS only have jurisdiction over individual registered veterinary surgeons. Should the RCVS be informed of, or identify, individuals practising while unregistered it is a matter for the police or local trading standards agencies to prosecute under Section 19 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
	The regulations do not require or give the RCVS powers to compel members to provide practice details, although many do so on a voluntary basis. This information is maintained on a database and is published on the RCVS website under 'Find-a-Vet'. This is annually printed as a publication, Xthe Directory of Veterinary Practices" and is available to the public. The Directory and 'Find-a-Vet' link individual veterinary surgeons to practices and provide comprehensive information on the species they treat and any specialist services they offer.
	The RCVS continually monitors various advertising and other information media to identify practices not listed in the Directory. Once identified they are contacted and asked if they wish to be listed.
	It is the responsibility of practices to check that prospective employees possess relevant qualifications and in the case of veterinarians that they are registered with the RCVS.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the formulation of a universal set of standards for use by the African Union for the peer review mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Bill Rammell: The NEPAD Steering Committee has tasked its Secretariat to develop detailed criteria and indicators for measuring performance on political and economic governance. These will be considered at the next meeting of the NEPAD Implementation Committee in February 2003. We understand that the process of the peer review mechanism will draw on expertise from both UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union, but the NEPAD Secretariat will have the key role in making sure the process gets started.
	Pending the ultimate integration of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) with the African Union, the Implementation Committee has recommended that the specialist commission, units or organs of the AU responsible for democracy, political and human rights, be tasked to conduct technical assessments for the APRM.

Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether G8 funding for the New Partnership for Africa's Development is conditional on the inclusion of the peer review mechanism.

Bill Rammell: The G8 response to the NEPAD initiative is set out in the G8 Action Plan for Africa, which was placed in the House Libraries on 1 July this year.
	As NEPAD is a political agreement between African leaders, not a funding mechanism, G8 countries will not be funding NEPAD directly. The G8 is committed to establishing enhanced partnerships with African countries whose performance reflects the NEPAD commitments. The peer review mechanism will inform our considerations of eligibility for enhanced partnerships. Each G8 member will make their own assessments. The bulk of UK bilateral assistance to Africa will flow to enhanced partnership countries, providing sustained and predictable levels of support to those countries best able to use it. Poor performers and those in conflict, will not be neglected, but the nature of the engagement will differ.

Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the peer review mechanism within the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Bill Rammell: There has been welcome progress on NEPAD's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), an African-owned and led initiative. At the 3 November NEPAD Implementation Committee meeting in Abuja, African leaders developed an agreement on a comprehensive, voluntary, peer review mechanism covering political, economic and corporate governance. We welcome the decision of 12 members of the Implementation Committee plus Uganda to sign a Declaration of Intent to submit to the peer review process.
	The NEPAD Secretariat has been tasked with finalising the accession process (by January) and developing the indicators for measuring performance in time for the next Implementation Committee meeting in February. Review of the first countries should start in April 2003.

Avient Air

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2002, Official Report, columns 44–50W, whether discussions have taken place in the last two years between British Government officials and (a) Andrew Smith and (b) other representatives of Avient Air in Zimbabwe on matters other than the sale of military equipment.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Further investigation has revealed that there have been a number of discussions in the last two years between Andrew Smith and British Government officials in London and Freetown concerning Mr. Smith's interest in a civil aviation contract in Sierra Leone. Mr. Smith has also made representations to officials following the publication of the UN Panel Report on the DRC.
	In addition, further investigation has revealed that the previous Political Counsellor at the British High Commission in Harare met Mr. Smith on a number of occasions in the last two years, and that our Defence Attaché in Zimbabwe had a meeting with Mr. Smith in October 2001. The Defence Attaché also met him informally at several social events in that year.
	I have instructed officials to continue investigations into contacts between Mr. Smith and Government officials and I will write if I have any further information.

Avient Air

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 between British Government officials and (i) Mr. Andrew Smith and (ii) other representatives of Avient Air in (A) Zimbabwe and (B) the UK with regard to (1) sales of military equipment, (2) military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and (3) other matters.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 November 2002
	British High Commission officials in Zimbabwe had contact with Mr. Smith on a number of occasions between 1998 and 2000, including at social events. British officials did not at any time encourage, support or promote Mr. Smith's activities in the DRC.
	I have instructed officials to continue investigations into contacts between Mr. Smith and Government officials and I will write if I have any further information.

Bonn Conference (Afghanistan)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the Bonn conference he attended on 2 December with regard to progress in Afghanistan, with particular reference to (a) extending the ISAF effort outside of Kabul and (b) the progress of the restoration of women's rights; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The participants at the Bonn conference reviewed the achievements of the past year; agreed on the text of a communiqué highlighting areas where further progress is needed; welcomed the intention of Afghanistan and neighbouring states to meet in Kabul on 22 December to decide on a declaration of good neighbourly relations; and welcomed the signing, by President Karzai, of a decree on principles governing the establishment of the Afghan National Army (ANA). The participants discussed the importance of pressing ahead with ANA reform and demobilisation in accordance with the agreed principles in order to improve the security situation throughout the country.
	The participants agreed that the strengthening of the national independent Human Rights Commission's capacity for the monitoring of human rights implementation and investigations into human rights violations was fundamental. The participants also noted the importance of the development of a new constitution and the preparation for free and fair elections to select a broad-based, gender-sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative government. The UK will continue to work closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration and the rest of the international community to ensure women's full and active participation in civil, political, economic, social and cultural life throughout Afghanistan.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with European colleagues on financial assistance to states to assist them in implementing programmes to protect minors against cruelty and exploitation.

Denis MacShane: The issue arises frequently in discussions among European colleagues.
	The EU has been actively engaged in the development of a comprehensive policy to fight violence against and the sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography and child sex tourism. The EU Daphne Programme, now with a budget of Euro20 million, has allowed for the implementation of around 100 projects dealing with the protection of children from all forms of violence: trafficking, child pornography and the internet, commercial sexual exploitation, and missing children.
	The STOP II Programme was adopted in 2001 giving special attention to efforts to assist victims and to prevent trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children. This programme focuses on candidate countries and also provides for co-operation with third countries and international organisations.

Diamonds

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the impact which the EC regulations implementing the Kimberley Process of diamond certification will have on conflict diamond trading in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bill Rammell: The DRC is a participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. When that scheme comes into effect in January 2003, all exports of rough diamonds from the DRC will have to be accompanied by the appropriate Kimberley Process certificate. The EU regulation prohibits imports into the Community of rough diamonds not accompanied by a certificate.
	Our expectation is that the implementation of this scheme will curb the circulation of so-called 'conflict diamonds' in legitimate markets.
	The Government of the DRC is making positive steps to put in place legislative and administrative procedures to implement the scheme. The EU and some of the other participants in the Kimberley Process are prepared to assist the DRC with their implementation plans.

Diamonds

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) sunset and (b) territoriality provisions are contained within the EC regulations implementing the Kimberley Process of diamond certification.

Bill Rammell: The draft EC regulation on implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme contains a review clause requiring the Commission to report to the Council on the implementation of the regulation and on its possible repeal in the event that the Kimberley Process Scheme comes to an end.
	The scope of the regulation covers Community territory, including airspace and aircraft,and vessels under a member state's jurisdiction. Outside the Community territory, it also applies to any national of a member state and to any legal person, entity or body, which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.

Ethiopia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's decision to increase military assistance to Ethiopia.

Bill Rammell: The Ethiopian Government has asked the United Kingdom to provide training for the police and security forces to assist in the democratisation process and in promoting respect for human rights. There will be a UK joint Ministry of Defence/DFID/Foreign and Commonwealth Office scoping mission to Ethiopia in early 2003 to examine with the Government the best ways we can provide support and address human rights violations through effective training of the police and security forces.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment has been purchased with funds from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool in each year since the programme's inception, indicating in each case the amount spent and the end uses.

Bill Rammell: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool began operating in FY 2001–02. Its purpose is to improve the effectiveness of the UK's contribution to conflict prevention in areas other than sub-Saharan Africa, which is covered by the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool. The Global Pool covers the direct conflict prevention activities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence, where a joint approach adds value.
	Its programme budget for FY 2001–02 was £60 million and for FY 2002–03 it was £100 million.
	Details of military equipment purchased with Global Pool programme funding since its inception are as follows:
	
		
			 Recipient Financial year Cost (£) Description 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 
			 Afghan National Army, and ISAF/Afghan Police and Military controls at Kabul entry points FY 2002–03 (to date) 1.412 million Hard and soft top jeeps, trucks, communication equipment, security equipment including spotlights, radio, metal detectors 
			 Nepal FY 2001–02 285,818 Land Rovers spares and maintenance training, communications equipment 
			 Royal Nepalese Army FY 2002–03 3,099,347 Communications equipment, binoculars, compasses, Swiftscopes, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment, two transport helicopters 
			 Belize FY 2001–02 169,555 Aircraft parts and freight costs, Land Rovers and spares, radio equipment 
			 Belize Defence Force FY 2002–03 127,259 Uniforms, mess kits, tents, hammocks, radio equipment 
			 Macedonia FY 2001–02 282,500 EOD equipment, body armour. global positioning system, mine detector sets, flares 
			 Macedonian authorities  75,000 Four fork-lift trucks 
			 Uruguay FY 2001–02 27,014 Three NERA satellite phones and airtime

Ian Stillman

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indian authorities on the case of Ian Stillman.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised Mr. Stillman's case with the Government of India on six occasions this year. Recently he raised it with the Indian Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, on 21 August 2002 and the Indian Foreign Minister on 31 October 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister, and I, have also raised Mr. Stillman's case with the Indian Government. Most recently the Prime Minister wrote to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee on 4 November expressing the hope that Mr. Stillman would be released soon.
	The Indian Government have offered to consider a clemency plea from Mr. Stillman sympathetically. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met members of Mr. Stillman's family to discuss next steps in the case on 19 November 2002.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to open the visa centre in Jallander, Punjab, India.

Bill Rammell: We hope to open a visa application centre in Jallander early in 2003. We also hope to open a network of such centres across India to bring UK visa services nearer to our customers.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers have visited India since 1 January 2001; and which Department they were from.

Mike O'Brien: The following Ministers have visited India since 1 January 2001:
	January 2001—Right hon. Baroness Blackstone, Minister of State for Education and Employment, Department for Education and Skills;
	January 2001—Right hon. Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Department of Trade and Industry;
	January 2001—Right hon. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, Department for International Development;
	February 2001—Right hon. Baroness Symons, Minister for Defence Procurement, Ministry of Defence;
	July 2001—Right hon. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister;
	October 2001—Right hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister;
	October/November 2001—Douglas Alexander, Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, Department of Trade and Industry;
	November 2001—Right hon. Geoff Hoon, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence;
	January 2002—Right hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister;
	February 2002—Nigel Griffiths, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Department of Trade and Industry;
	February 2002—Right hon. Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
	February 2002—Ben Bradshaw, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
	February 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
	May 2002—Right hon. Geoffery Hoon, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence;
	May 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
	July 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
	September 2002—Right hon. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister;
	October/November 2002—Right hon. Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
	October 2002—Right hon. Michael Meacher, Minister of State (Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
	October 2002—Mike O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
	October 2002—Stephen Timms, Minister of State for School Standards, Department for Education and Skills;
	November 2002—Right hon. Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Her Majesty's Treasury;
	December 2002—Right hon. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, Department for International Development.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning the Anfal campaigns in Iraq in 1987–88.

Mike O'Brien: The Anfal campaigns have been well documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Tens of thousands of Kurds disappeared and hundreds of Kurdish villages were destroyed. The campaign included the use of chemical weapons where a single attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja killed up to 5,000 civilians and injured some 10,000 more.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the evidential basis is for his statement on page 7 of the unnumbered document Saddam Hussein: Crimes and Human Rights Abuses of the allegation relating to caning of members of the national football team on the feet.

Mike O'Brien: In our document XSaddam Hussein: crimes and human rights abuses" we report the allegation that Udayy Hussein ordered the national football team to be caned on the soles of their feet after losing a World Cup qualifying match. The Foreign Office has had direct confirmation from Abbas al-Janabi, Press Secretary to Udayy Hussein at the time of the atrocity, that the incident occurred. An Iraqi national footballer, Sharar Haydar Mohamad al Hadithi, not involved in this match, is reported as saying that the caning did take place. Al Hadithi is also reported to have said that he was repeatedly caned on the soles of the feet, dragged through a pit of gravel and ordered to jump into a sewage pit to ensure the wounds were infected after having lost a match in 1994. These incidents conform with other stories suggesting a pattern of abusive behaviour by Udayy towards Iraqi sports people, for example the account of an Iraqi wrestler, Amra Haliff, in a Channel Four Despatches programme, broadcast on 17 November.
	In 1997 FIFA sent officials to Iraq to investigate these allegations. Although Iraq was cleared, individuals who later fled Iraq, such as those mentioned above, confirmed that the allegations were true.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement on page 5 of his document, Saddam Hussein: Crimes and Human Rights Abuse, if he will name those who have had their ears cut off in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The decree in 1994 called for the amputation of the outer part of the ear for those deserting the army of failing to join military service. The Iraqi regime itself acknowledges that it has pursued a policy of amputating ears. The Justice Minister, Shabib al-Maliki, said in an interview with Reuters on 18 January 1996 that a few criminals had had their ears amputated. The law was repealed at about that time. We do not have specific names. I will write to my hon. Friend further on this issue.

Kashmir

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the incidence of cross-border incursions and terrorist attacks across the Line of Control in India.

Mike O'Brien: There are some differences of view in India on the extent of any reduction on terrorist activity but on 27 November, India Defence Minister George Fernandes said XSome of the terrorist organisations in Pakistan were closed, some terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir were closed, their accounts frozen and leaders arrested. Moreover, the infiltration this year has come down considerably compared to the figures of the corresponding period of the previous year". Despite this, terrorist attacks continue in Jammu and Kashmir, most recently the attack on the Raghunath Hindu Temple on 24 November which left over 50 injured. We unreservedly condemn such attacks. The Pakistan Government have assured us that President Musharraf's pledge that there will be no movement across the Line of Control stands, and that the Pakistani Army is doing all it can to stop infiltration. A permanent end to cross-border infiltration and terrorism in Kashmir is critical to a sustained and substantive dialogue leading towards a lasting settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Liberia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Guinean Government with the UN arms embargo on Liberia.

Bill Rammell: Guinea has supported maintenance of the arms embargo on Liberia, including as a member of the Security Council.
	President Charles Taylor of Liberia alleges that Guinea is supplying the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) in breach of the arms embargo. The UN Security Council reaffirmed in a statement on 26 November, that the arms embargo applies to any recipient in Liberia, including non-state actors.
	The UN Panel of Experts Report on Liberia of 7 October 2002 states that ammunition captured from LURD rebels in Liberia had been part of a shipment from the United Arab Emirates to Guinea. This shipment was reported to have been destroyed by fire. It is unclear how the ammunition could have come into the possession of the LURD.
	We call on all countries, without exception, to respect the arms embargo on Liberia.

Prisons (Tanzania)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been received by his Department on the adherence to basic human rights within prisons in Tanzania.

Bill Rammell: We have no evidence of systematic violation of human rights within prisons in Tanzania. However, lack of institutional, financial and physical capacity in the prison service results in chronic overcrowding in Tanzania's prisons. This means that observance of international standards is not always achieved.

Visas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visas were issued at (a) New Delhi, (b) Mumbai, (c) Calcutta, (d) Dhaka, (e) Sylhet, (f) Islamabad, (g) Karachi, (h) Washington and (i) New York in 2001.

Bill Rammell: UK visas changed to collecting statistics on a financial year basis from the beginning of financial year 2001–02. The Joint Management Board supervising the operations of UK visas requested this change to bring statistical data into line with other data collected by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office.
	The total number of visas issued in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, Washington and New York from April 2001 to March 2002 was as follows:
	New Delhi—64,343
	Mumbai—66,108
	Kolkuta (Calcutta)—9,907
	Dhaka—19,896
	Islamabad—56,182
	Karachi—28,634
	Washington—11,414
	New York—31,779
	Sylhet is not a visa issuing post, applications are taken in and sent to Dhaka for processing.

HEALTH

Botox Injections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risk from Botox injections.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 28 November 2002
	Botox was subject to stringent testing for safety, quality and effectiveness before a marketing authorisation for medicinal use was granted. As with all authorised medicines, the safety of Botox is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, an expert advisory committee. The MCA monitors the safety of drugs using all available sources and reviews any in light of any new evidence which emerges.

CBRN Incidents

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to deal with the disposal of corpses contaminated by a CBRN attack.

David Blunkett: holding answer 25 November 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 366W.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the costs to local authorities of the proposed fines for delayed discharge;
	(2)  what formula he will use to distribute the £100 million from the NHS to social services to recompense for delayed discharge;
	(3)  which organisations he consulted on the policy of the extra £100 million for social services budgets for tackling delayed discharge that will come from within the NHS budget;
	(4)  how he arrived at the figure of £100 million for the annual cost to social services departments in England for delayed discharge; and if he will publish the calculations and data used to arrive at his estimate.

Jacqui Smith: holding answers 28 November and 4 December 2002
	The maximum cost that social services would face in payments to hospitals under the Community Care (Delayed Discharges, etc) Bill would be £100 million in any one year. That is on the assumption that councils make no progress at all beyond the targets they have already set themselves to reduce the levels of delayed discharges from hospitals by March 2003. It pre-supposes that social services do not use the annual increase in resources to put in place new services to help reduce delayed discharges from hospitals still further and that none of the £1 billion—most of which is earmarked—for elderly care services actually gets spent on building up capacity in elderly care services. Given these assumptions, the Government does not believe that social services will have to pay £100 million to the health service.
	Nevertheless, for each of the next three full years, an extra £100 million—on top of the resources already made available—will be transferred from the national health service budget to social services for each full year in which the scheme operates. This will provide a positive incentive to make the system work. This will enable individual councils to gain from the system, provided that they make available the community services needed to reduce delayed discharges from hospitals. The fundamental objection to the Bill, particularly from local government interests during consultation, was that social services were being given a new responsibility without adequate resources. These resources address that.
	The formula for allocating this to councils is still being considered.

EU Directives (Food Supplements)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he is making to the European Commission about the proposed directives on nutritional supplements and herbal remedies; and what changes to the directives he is proposing;
	(2)  what his policy is on support for each of the amendments passed by the European Parliament to the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive when next the Council of Ministers considers the Directive.

Hazel Blears: Directive 2002/46/EC on Food Supplements came into force on 12 July 2002. The Food Standards Agency is not proposing any amendments to the Directive.
	In the ongoing negotiations on the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products our priorities will be to press for greater scope to take account of valid evidence of traditional use from outside the European Union, for national flexibility to extend simplified registration to at least some categories of non herbal traditional medicines and for the Directive to cover traditional herbal remedies with added nutrients. The latter point might be covered by either specific amendment or through reasonable interpretation of the current text.
	We support the principle of amendments which would: reduce the required period of usage within the European Union, permit the inclusion of nutrients with traditional herbal remedies; strengthen the role of the proposed Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products; set a deadline of three years after the Directive coming into force for the completion of the proposed review of the Directive.
	We intend to oppose the principle of automatic recognition of registrations or authorisations previously granted to a product in other member states since we believe this could serve to reduce flexibility available to member states; also, historical differences in the way member states have regulated similar products would be likely to create difficulties for a member state seeking to follow a consistent interpretation of the distinction between well established use, for the purposes of a marketing authorisation, and traditional use. We will oppose, on public health grounds, the principle of allowing new combinations of active medicinal ingredients without evidence of traditional use of that combination, although we will continue to look for ways during negotiations of maximising the possibilities for demonstrating traditional use of herbal combinations.
	We will oppose the principle of restricting the Directive to ingredients for which there is well documented experimental and clinical evidence of efficacy, as this would run counter to the principle of accepting evidence of traditional usage in place of the normal requirement to demonstrate the efficacy of medicines and could erect an additional regulatory hurdle.
	We will consider further the specific proposal to amend the definition of herbal medicinal product in relation to the extent of pharmacological activity. As drafted this could rule out a number of products from achieving registration, in particular where medicines are regarded as medicinal by virtue of their presentation. Also we have doubts about the advisability of amending the definition of a medicinal product in relation to herbal medicines only, when issues relating to levels of pharmacological activity also affect other categories of medicine. However, this regulatory area is a complex one and we will continue to be open to dialogue on this issue, whether in domestic discussions with the herbal sector or European negotiations.
	We will consider further the principle of removing the labelling and advertising requirement to indicate that efficacy of traditional use product is not clinically proven. The potential advantages of a more positive presentation of products registered under the proposed traditional use scheme need to be weighed against the possible risk of weakening the incentive for companies to research the efficacy of herbal medicines.

Frictional Discharge

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his definition is of frictional discharge; and what the level of frictional discharge was in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The system of financial incentives that the Community Care (Delayed Discharges, etc) Bill will put in place means that there is no longer a need for a national level of Xfrictional" delays. These will vary from locality to locality and the financial incentives will ensure that the level of delayed transfers of care is at a minimal level by 2006.

Furazolidone

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to label turkeys imported from Brazil that have been treated with nitrofuran antibiotic furazolidone drug.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Following the discovery of illegal residues of nitrofuran drugs in poultry by the United Kingdom and other member states, the European Union Commission has put in place measures to protect consumer safety. All imports of Brazilian poultry, including turkeys, are held by border inspection posts and released into the food supply only if these illegal residues are not detected. This action offers greater consumer protection than a labelling initiative.

Hepatitis C

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate a large scale screening programme for hepatitis C.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 December 2002
	Our consultation paper, XHepatitis C Strategy for England", which was published on 14 August 2002, proposes that individuals at increased risk of infection or with otherwise unexplained liver disease should be offered testing for hepatitis C.
	We will be issuing guidance to the national health service on hepatitis C testing as part of implementation of the strategy.

Hepatitis C

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of new infections of hepatitis C there will be in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 December 2002
	New cases of hepatitis C infection usually occur without causing symptoms. Therefore it is not possible to identify new infections or make reliable estimates of future trends.
	The Public Health Laboratory Service receives reports of laboratory diagnoses of antibody to hepatitis C. These diagnoses are not able to distinguish between new and previous infections and most often identify individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection. As proposed in our consultation paper, XHepatitis C Strategy for England", it is expected that there will be an increase in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection over the next few years, as individuals who have carried the virus for some time are identified through wider testing of groups who have been at risk.

Hepatitis C

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the proportion of moderate to severe sufferers of hepatitis C who receive the mandated treatment specified by NICE.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 December 2002
	The Department of Health does not hold information centrally about the number of patients receiving treatment for hepatitis C.

Herbal Medicines

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the suitability of the Medicines Control Agency as the regulatory body for herbal remedies.

Hazel Blears: Many medicines contain plant ingredients or have been derived from plant sources. The Medicines Control Agency and its predecessor within the Department has regulated plant based medicines for many years. The MCA is internationally recognised for its regulatory expertise and we are satisfied that the Agency should continue to regulate herbal medicines. We also take the view that regulatory efficiency and effectiveness would be impaired if responsibility for the regulation of medicines were to be split between different regulatory bodies, depending on whether or not a medicine was plant based.

Medical Devices Agency

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to speed clinical implementation of recommendations by the Medical Devices Agency.

Hazel Blears: The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) has instituted a system in acute trusts for monitoring the advice contained in device hazard notices and device alerts to ensure timely distribution and implementation.
	The MDA is also working closely with the National Patient Safety Agency and colleagues in the Department to introduce a new system to record and monitor the implementation of all safety warnings and to see that these are embedded within each trust's risk management and controls assurance processes.

Medicines Control Agency

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs arising to manufacturers from (a) Medicines Control Agency fees, (b) the costs of document preparation, (c) the storage of batches for testing, (d) analysis cost and (e) annual licence fees for (i) a simple herbal product with one ingredient and (ii) a complex herbal product containing several ingredients, in connection with the submission of applications for registration under the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

Hazel Blears: The proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products is under negotiation and at this stage it is not yet possible to identify detailed costs. However, under the current proposals it should not be necessary for companies to demonstrate the efficacy of the product and where products comply with the proposed European positive list, it will not be necessary to provide evidence of safety or traditional use either. We would expect that to be reflected in the fee levels for a traditional use registration. Any proposed fee levels will need to be agreed by Ministers and will be the subject of public consultation before they are put before Parliament.
	We welcome the stated intention of the herbal forum, a group which represents all the United Kingdom manufacturing trade associations operating in the herbal sector, to have constructive discussions with the Medicines Control Agency on a wide range of detailed practical issues relating to negotiations on the Directive and its implementation should the Directive be agreed. A key aim of these discussions will be to identify ways to contain regulatory impact, consistent with protecting public health.

Mental Health (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the specialist mental health posts in Leeds, West; and indicate which are filled.

Jacqui Smith: The 'three-month vacancy' and staff in post figures as at March 2002 for the former Leeds Community and Mental Health Services National Health Service Trust can be found in the table.
	
		
			 Total Psychiatry Group  
		
		
			 3-month vacancy rate (percentage) 11.6 
			 3-month vacancy rate (number) 10 
			 Staff in post (wte) 40 
			 Staff in post (head count) 40 
			   
			 General Psychiatry  
			 3-month vacancy rate (percentage) 4.7 
			 3-month vacancy rate (number) 0 
			 Staff in post (wte) 20 
			 Staff in post (head count) 20 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 3-month vacancy information as at 31 March 2002.
	2. 3-month vacancies are vacancies which NHS trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for 3 months or more (wte).
	3. 3-month vacancy rates are 3-month vacancies expressed as a percentage of 3-month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. 3-month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey and the Consultant Census, March 2002.
	5. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2001 and the Mini Consultant Census, March 2002.
	6. Staff in post data excludes staff employed by the health authorities.
	7. Medical and dental figures exclude staff in training.
	8. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	9. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	10. Strategic health authority figures are based on NHS trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.
	11. Figures may not match previously published data due to a different method of rounding used on the staff in post data.
	Sources:
	1. Vacancy numbers and rates: DoH Vacancies Survey March 2002 and Consultant Census Health.
	2. Medical and dental staff in post: DoH Consultant Census March 2002.
	Information is not available for the specialities of child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, old age psychiatry, psychiatry of learning disability and psychotherapy as the sum of staff in post and vacancies is less than 10.

Norwalk Viruses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of outbreaks of Norwalk-like viruses in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of hospital outbreaks of Norwalk-like viruses to the NHS.

Hazel Blears: The public health laboratory service (PHLS) has a voluntary reporting system for outbreaks of gastroenteritis, including those caused by norovirus, previously known as Norwalk-like virus. These data are known to be incomplete but in 2001, 80 hospital outbreaks 1 were reported and to date in 2002 there have been 183 reports. We believe that this increase reflects both improved reporting and the fact that the usual decline in norovirus infections over the summer months did not occur this year. As part of a separate initiative, the PHLS has approached specialist laboratories and identified a further 275 outbreaks that had not been reported.
	We do not have data on the costs to the NHS of outbreaks of gastroenteritis caused by norovirus.
	1 Outbreaks in England and Wales proven or suspected of being associated with norovirus.

Opioid Substitution Treatments

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake a study of the comparative advantages of using buprenorphine over methadone in opioid substitution treatments.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 December 2002
	The Department's guidelines document—XDrug misuse and dependence—guidelines on clinical management" (1999) describes the principles required for safe and effective clinical practice. The guidelines also describe the use of buprenorphine with reference to the evidence base (including its advantages and disadvantages) both for substitution for detoxification and substitution for maintenance prescribing.
	The national treatment agency for substance misuse (NTA) has a key role in considering and developing the research base for treatment and in disseminating evidence into practice. It has convened an on-going working group—the 'expert prescribing group' that meets regularly to consider treatment issues. Hence mechanisms are in place which allow the research agenda and evidence base to be kept under constant review.
	Buprenorphine has a long history of use in the United Kingdom, but more recently, with increasing experience of use, as a substitute maintenance and detoxification treatment. The NTA is currently reviewing its research priorities and will continue to consider treatment issues as they develop.

Orthopaedic Care (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the length of time it takes to get (a) an appointment and (b) treatment in the orthopaedic departments in Leeds Health Trust.

Jacqui Smith: The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust meets all NHS Plan targets with regard to referrals for out-patient appointments in orthopaedics. In September 2001, there were a total of 1,640 people who had waited longer than 21 weeks for an out-patient appointment in orthopaedics. In September 2002, there was nobody who had waited longer than 21 weeks. That represents a significant improvement.
	The trust also meets the NHS plan target to operate on all orthopaedic patients within a maximum of 12 months.

Seroxat

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the use of the drug Seroxat; and what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of the drug.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has received a range of representations including parliamentary questions, letters from hon. and right hon. Members, patients and health care professionals about the safety of Seroxat.
	Seroxat (paroxetine) is a member of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before a product is granted a licence for use in the United Kingdom, satisfactory evidence of safety, quality and efficacy is required. After licensing, the safety of all medicines including SSRIs is continually monitored by the MCA and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and any new evidence which emerges is carefully reviewed.
	The MCA and the CSM carried out a major review of all side effects associated with SSRIs, which was completed in 2000 and resulted in product information for all SSRIs including Seroxat being updated and harmonised to reflect the common safety profiles of these medicines. An article in Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance in 2000 informed prescribers about this review and reminded them about the risk of withdrawal reactions.
	Withdrawal reactions are an important and well-recognised side effect of Seroxat and also occur with the other SSRIs. The MCA/CSM warned prescribers about the possibility of withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat via an article in the bulletin Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance in 1993. The CSM re-reviewed the issue of withdrawal reactions and possible dependence with Seroxat and the other SSRIs in 1998–99. From detailed review of all available data, which included spontaneous reports, published literature, clinical trials and usage data, the CSM concluded that all SSRIs may be associated with withdrawal reactions on stopping but on current evidence they are not associated with dependence. As a result of this review product information for all SSRIs was updated in relation to withdrawal reactions. This issue was also reviewed at a European level by the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) which reached similar conclusions.
	The product information for Seroxat which includes the summary of product characteristics for prescribers and the patient information leaflet contains details of side effects and warnings about withdrawal reactions. Doctors are advised to consider gradual tapering of dose when Seroxat is discontinued rather than abruptly stopping to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
	The MCA/CSM is currently undertaking an intensive review of the safety of SSRIs, and in particular withdrawal reactions with Seroxat. When this is complete, any new advice will be communicated to prescribers and patients.

Specialised Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2002, on specialised services, Official Report, ref 82780, if he will list the groups that attended the meeting on 10 September.

John Hutton: The following organisations attended the national review group meeting on 10 September, considering commissioning arrangements for specialised services:
	The Academy of Royal Medical Colleges
	The Joint Consultants' Committee
	Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales
	The Patients' Association
	The National Health Service Confederation
	One strategic health authority
	Four primary care trusts
	Five national health service trusts
	Chairs of regional specialised commissioning groups
	National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group
	Department of Health
	Observers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	The Royal College of Nursing were invited, but were unable to attend.

Sporadic CJD

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government are doing to investigate sporadic CJD.

Hazel Blears: One of the Department of Health-funded National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit's tasks is to identify and to investigate all cases of CJD, including sporadic CJD, in the United Kingdom by clinical examination, clinical investigations, neuropathological examination, genetic analysis, molecular biological studies, collecting basic epidemiological data and carrying out a case-control study. In addition, the UK is a member of the European and Allied Countries Collaborative Study Group, which is investigating the disease within and across European countries.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Accommodation Centres

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres will be able to consider whether the location of a centre prevents a need of its residents from being met only once it has been built;
	(2)  if it is the responsibility of the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres to monitor the operation of the whole of Part 2 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002;
	(3)  if the views of the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres will be taken into account by the Secretary of State in his evaluation of sites for further accommodation centres;
	(4)  if he will take into account views expressed by the Independent Monitor of Accommodation Centres as to whether a place as a location for the provision of premises to accommodate asylum seekers and their dependants prevents a need of its residents from being met.

Beverley Hughes: Whether the location of an accommodation centre prevents a need of its residents from being met is a matter that can only be considered and assessed by the monitor once the accommodation centre is up and running. The monitor will not be involved in the selection of sites and there is no requirement for the Secretary of State to consult the monitor prior to establishing an accommodation centre. Decisions on the location of accommodation centres will be taken by the Secretary of State, subject to the planning process.
	Part 2 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 makes provisions regarding accommodation centres. Under section 34, the monitor is required to monitor the operation of Part 2 of the Act, and in particular, to consider:
	(i) the quality and effectiveness of accommodation and other facilities provided in accommodation centres;
	(ii) the nature and enforcement of conditions of residence;
	(iii) the treatment of residents; and
	(iv) whether, in the case of any accommodation centre, its location prevents a need of its residents from being met.
	The monitor must report at least annually to the Secretary of State after the centres are up and running and the Secretary of State must lay a copy of the annual report he receives before Parliament as soon as is reasonably practicable.
	If the monitor were to produce a critical report and identify a need of the residents of an accommodation centre which the location of the centre was preventing from being met, this would be one factor in the overall evaluation of the trial. If the monitor raised concerns with the Secretary of State, either in a formal report or before making his formal report, we would be able to consider whether those concerns required changes to be made.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights district councils have to stop asylum seekers coming into an area.

Beverley Hughes: It is Government policy that asylum seekers who request that accommodation be provided as part of an application for support are dispersed away from London and the south-east. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), with the approval of Ministers of the day, designated certain areas (referred to by NASS as Xcluster areas") as suitable for the dispersal of asylum seekers. Prior to designation NASS consulted each regional consortium (made up of all local authorities and county councils within that region) to seek their views on areas proposed for designation. District councils have no right to either stop NASS procuring accommodation for asylum seekers or to prevent asylum seekers being moved into NASS accommodation in their area.
	Asylum seekers not requiring accommodation from NASS can live wherever they choose. Local councils have no duty to provide housing to asylum seekers if their need for this arises solely as a result of destitution.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to compel a county council to accept asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: Under section 101 of the Immigration and asylum Act 1999 we can, by order designate an area as a reception zone. No such orders have been made. We have established dispersal areas for asylum seekers requiring accommodation. A county council has no power to prevent asylum seekers being housed in accommodation provided to the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) for that purpose by an accommodation provider in an area designated by NASS as suitable for the housing of asylum seekers supported by NASS.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Folkestone is a high-dispersal area so far as asylum seekers are concerned.

Beverley Hughes: Folkestone is not used by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) as a dispersal area for asylum seekers requiring accommodation.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he proposes to locate a 24-hour reporting centre for asylum seekers in Folkestone.

Beverley Hughes: The setting up of regional asylum reporting centres is part of the Government's strategy to introduce a more rigorous control into the asylum process and bring about improved contact with asylum seekers while their claims are under consideration. The aim is to achieve stronger management of the asylum process, while affording asylum seekers opportunities to monitor the progress of their cases.
	Maintaining contact with asylum seekers while their claims are considered is essential. It is in the interests of all parties—the applicant, the local community and central and local Government—that asylum applications are managed quickly and efficiently as part of a well managed asylum system.
	Reporting centres will form an important part of this process, providing a well managed approach to the handling of asylum seeker's applications; from arrival to the removal of failed applicants, or the integration into the community of those recognised as refugees.
	The Government are planning to set up a number of reporting centres throughout the UK as part of an overall contact management strategy to support the processing of asylum applications and is keen to utilise such centres for this reporting process, rather than have asylum seekers reporting to their local police station with significant implications on police resources.

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs met to discuss its 2002 report on the classification of cannabis prior to its completion; which members of the Council attended each meeting; and if he will place the minutes of the meetings in the Library;
	(2)  on what basis members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are appointed;
	(3)  what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the concentration of the active ingredients in cannabis used in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to THC; and what changes have occurred in this respect since 1972;
	(4)  if he will ask the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs to review their recommendation on the reclassification of cannabis following recent research into a causal relationship between the drug and mental illness;
	(5)  on the basis of what scientific evidence the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs to downgrade the classification of cannabis was made; and what research led the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs to conclude that the original decision on the classification of cannabis should be changed;
	(6)  if the conclusions to the 2002 Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on the classification of cannabis apply to all forms of cannabis;
	(7)  if his intention to reclassify cannabis applies to all forms;
	(8)  what assessment he has made of recent research into the causal relationship between cannabis use and mental illness; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs: 'The classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971' was based on a detailed scrutiny of the relevant scientific literature, including four reviews commissioned by the Department of Health in 1998 as well as an update commissioned by the Home Office and completed in November 2001. A copy of the Council's report is in the Library. A fuller list of source materials is set out at pages 13 and 14 of the report.
	The Advisory Council is a statutory and independent Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, which was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the Act members of the Council, of whom there should be not less than 20, are appointed by the Secretary of State They must include representatives of the practices of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry and chemistry other than the pharmaceutical industry and people who have a wide range of experience of social problems connected with the misuse of drugs.
	Since 1971 the Advisory Council has kept the classification all drugs of abuse including cannabis under periodic and systematic review. Following my right hon Friend the Home Secretary's announcement on 23 October 2001 that he would ask the Council to review the classification of cannabis, the Council agreed at its meeting on 8 November to commission some individual members to produce a draft report on the classification of cannabis. The Council met to discuss the draft report on 15 January 2002. It's discussion was informed by meetings of sub-committees of the Council, which had been held on 1 November 2001 and the morning of 15 January 2002.
	Minutes of meetings of the Council are not published documents. However, the Council's report on the classification of cannabis (referred to above) represents the outcome of the Council's discussions on 15 January 2002.
	During the period leading up to the Advisory Council's report, its' membership, and the capacity jn which members were appointed, reads as follows:
	Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the Council, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Newcastle;
	Mr Vivian Ahmun, Director, Network Drugs Advice Project London;
	Mrs Joy Barlow, Independent consultant and researcher, Peebleshire;
	Mr Norman Bettison, Chief Constable, Merseyside Police;
	Reverend Martin Blakeborough, Director, Kaleidoscope Drugs Project, Kingston upon Thames;
	Mr Raj Boyjoonauth, Specialist Manager, The Riverside Mental Health Service, London;
	Mr Alexander Cameron, Director of Social Work, South Lanarkshire Council;
	Dr William Clee, General Medical Practitioner, South Wales;
	Dr Michael Donmall, Unit Director, North West Regional Drug Research Unit, Manchester;
	Mr Roger Howard, Chief Executive, DrugScope;
	Mr Alan Hunter, Secretary of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry;
	Professor Ronald Jones, Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia, University of Liverpool;
	Professor Otto Meth-Cohn, Chemistry Department, University of Sunderland;
	Mr Michael Narayn Singh, Public Education Officer, Manchester City Council;
	Professor David Nutt, Director of Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Bristol;
	Dr Diana Patterson, Consultant Psychiatrist, Shaftesbury Square Hospital, Belfast;
	Mrs Kay Roberts, Area Pharmacy Specialist-Drug Abuse, Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust;
	Mrs Patrcia Roberts, Director of the Drug Studies Unit, Ruskin;
	Dr Anthony Duxbury, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Oral Medicine, University Dental Hospital of Manchester;
	Ms Vivienne Evans, Chief Executive Addiction Service for Families (ADFAM);
	Dr Laurence Gruer, Director HIV & Addictions,Clinical Directorate Resource Centre, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow;
	Ms Kim Hager, Independent Drugs Counsellor, Exeter;
	Mr Peter Hampson, Chief Constable West Mercia Constabulary;
	Mr Paul Hayes, South East London Probation Service;
	Mr Russell Hayton, Manager of Drug and Alcohol Services, Plymouth National Health Service Trust;
	Ms Lorraine Hewitt, Project Manager, the Stockwell Project, West Lambeth Community Care;
	Mr Peter Housden, Chief Executive, Nottinghamshire County Council;
	Dr Roy Robertson, General Medical Practitioner, Edinburgh;
	Dr Sue Ruben, Consultant Psychiatrist, Liverpool;
	Mr Ian Sherwood, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist, Avon Drug Problem Team;
	Professor John Strang, Director of the Addiction Research Unit, National Addiction Centre;
	Mr Peter Walker, Headteacher, the Abbey School, Kent; and
	Mrs Barbara Whiteley, Magistrate, London.
	The possible link between cannabis use and mental illness (especially schizophrenia) has been debated for many years. In its report on the classification of cannabis, the Advisory Council said that no clear causal link was demonstrated, although cannabis could unquestionably worsen schizophrenia (and other mental illnesses) and lead to relapse in some patients. The research highlighted by the British Medical Journal (23 November 2002) adds to, but is not at variance with, the existing body of research which was drawn on by the Council in its consideration of the classification of cannabis. The Council reviews all recent research in a systematic way. The Home Secretary does not propose to ask the Council to review its recommendation about the classification of cannabis.
	The Forensic Science Service and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist analyse drug seizures and are therefore able to monitor the concentration of active ingredients in cannabis used in the United Kingdom, and in particular of the main psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The data they have collected indicates that the THC content of different cannabis products has varied, and continues to vary, widely, but that during the late 1980s and 1990s products with higher levels of THC became available as a result of new growing techniques being developed.
	The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, in its report on the classification of cannabis, recommended the reclassification of all cannabis preparations to Class C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This includes all forms of cannabis listed in Parts 1 and 11 of Schedule 2 to the Act. The Home Secretary intends to bring forward proposals to the House to amend the Act in line with the Council's recommendations.

Care Home Registrations

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was for care home managers' and owners' applications to be registered and processed by the NCSC; and how many applications have been outstanding in each of the last six months for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: . I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not currently available.

CCTV

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many urban areas are under 24-hour surveillance through the use of CCTV cameras; and what plans he has to extend the use of CCTV cameras for street surveillance.

John Denham: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Home Office does not hold information on the number of privately or publicly owned Close Circuit Television (CCTV) schemes in urban areas which operate 24 hour surveillance. It is for individual scheme owners (police, local authority or trading association) to decide surveillance periods based on crime and disorder patterns in their area and adopt an integrated approach.
	Coventry had five successful bids totalling £610,718 under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative. Although this Initiative is now closed, other opportunities for funding of CCTV schemes currently exist under the Safer Communities, Communities Against Drugs and Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiatives.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost is to his Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 November 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 98W.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral statement of 2 December 2002, Official Report, columns 611–12, what criteria he has used to differentiate between Iraqi nationals resident in the Sangatte Refugee Centre and those resident in the United Kingdom in the issuing of work permits.

Beverley Hughes: Iraqis from Sangatte will be issued with work visas in order to admit them to the UK. This is an exceptional scheme designed to deal with an exceptional set of circumstances. It has no implications for other Iraqi nationals resident in the UK.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Iraqi nationals resident in the Sangatte Refugee Centre to whom he intends to offer work permits he expects to be initially accommodated in the county of Kent.

Beverley Hughes: None.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Treasury on meeting the additional costs of (a) housing, (b) medical care, (c) education and (d) police activity generated by the influx of Iraqis currently accommodated in the Sangatte Refugee Centre from central government funds.

Beverley Hughes: None. The Home Office will meet from its own budget any temporary costs arising from the need to receive people from Sangatte and match them to jobs. The Iraqis are being admitted on the basis that they will work. We expect them to make a contribution to our economy, not impose a burden.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral statement of 2 December 2002, Official Report, columns 611–12, whether it is his policy that no asylum seekers carrying French badges other than those in Sangatte Refugee Centre will be admitted to the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: The Red Cross issued Xbadges" to all Sangatte residents between 27 September and 5 November. The arrangements announced on 2 December for bringing certain Sangatte residents to the UK apply to Xbadged" Sangatte residents who presented themselves at the centre by 8 pm on Tuesday 3 December.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has reached with the French Government to ensure that those wishing to seek asylum and having entered France do so in that country and are not permitted to transit to the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: Since the Sangatte Centre closed to new entrants on 5 November, the French have expected illegal migrants in the Calais area to face deportation or claim asylum in France. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Nicolas Sarkozy agreed on 2 December that the existing levels of security will be maintained in the Calais area until the message is fully understood that illegal immigration from Northern France to the UK is no longer possible.

Immigration

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral statement of 2 December 2002, Official Report, columns 611–12, how many (a) Iraqi and (b) Afghan nationals are claiming asylum in the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: Between July and September 2002, 4,300 Iraqi and 1,555 Afghan nationals applied for asylum in the United Kingdom (excluding dependants). The number of Iraqi and Afghan asylum applicants currently awaiting an initial decision is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	77 per cent. of applications received in the period April to June 2002 had initial decisions made and served within two months (excludes withdrawals and third country cases).
	Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The latest publication was published on 29 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Immigration

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made in the immigration appeal system to prevent individuals making subsequent appeals under an alias after their original appeal has been refused; and what the cost was of such appeals in each of the last five years

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Acts make provision for a right of appeal against decisions made by the Secretary of State to refuse immigration and asylum applications to an Adjudicator of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA). An appeal to an Adjudicator—the first tier of the IAA —must follow an immigration or asylum application. Consequently it is not possible to make a subsequent immigration appeal as described unless another application attracting a right of appeal has been made, and refused. Checks for multiple or alias applications would occur at the application stage rather than at the appeal stage.

Public Protection

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for members of the public, with proper training, to be involved in the strategic management of multi-agency public protection arrangements; and when they will come into practice.

Hilary Benn: Arrangements for appointing lay people to the strategic management boards of the multi-agency public protection arrangements are being piloted in eight Areas: Durham, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Cumbria, Surrey, Dorset, Hampshire and South Wales. They have been recruited using a thorough screening and selection system provided by the Home Office Assessment and Consultancy Unit.
	A period of local induction and training in each of the pilot areas now follows, with national training for all those recruited in late January. This training will be delivered by experienced professionals in the field of public protection. It is expected that they will begin sitting on the strategic boards of the pilot areas as functioning members in the new year. The evaluation of the pilots will be conducted by Manchester University and overseen by the Home Office's Research Directorate.
	The Government sees this as an important part of building public confidence in the excellent work the police and probation services, supported by other agencies, do in this field. The Criminal Justice Bill includes measures which will enable my right hon. Friend Home Secretary to appoint two lay advisers to each area's multi-agency public protection arrangements once that bill has been enacted.

Prison Population

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to ensure that where prisoners are enrolled in a course offering (a) education and (b) basic skills training, such prisoners are not moved to a different prison before completion of their course.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service tries to ensure prisoners complete education courses and minimise any disruption to family life. Establishments are advised to place the necessary 'holds' on prisoners studying for basic skills qualifications.
	All prisons have a mandatory requirement to provide a core curriculum which includes basic skills, information technology and preparation for work all of which are assessed using nationally recognised qualifications.
	Basic skills are assessed using a national test which is available weekly. Therefore a prisoner who is transferred midway through a basic skills course is likely to be able to continue this at the receiving prison if access to the education department is provided. Furthermore, prisoners' studying for other core curriculum subjects should be able to complete these if they are transferred.

Probation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expected gross increase in the National Probation Service budget is for the next financial year; how much of that increase will be spent on (a) National Directorate administration and programmes, (b) probation officer training, (c) hostels revenue grant and (d) probation board revenue resource allocation; and how much of the Probation Board allocation will be spent on (i) property and estate charges and (ii) national information technology increases.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The National Probation Service budget for the next financial year is expected to rise from £675.8 million to £746 million, an increase of just over £70 million. This is analysed as follows:
	
		£ million 
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 Change 
		
		
			 (a) National Probation Directorate (NPD) Admin and Programmes 52.8 50.7 -2.1 
			 (b) Probation Officer Training 42.0 53.0 11.0 
			 (c) Hostels Revenue Grant 42.7 49.0 6.3 
			 (d) General Revenue Allocation 520.0 575.0 55.0 
			 (e) Estate and Hostels 18.3 18.3 0.0 
			  
			 Total 675.8 746.0 70.2 
		
	
	It is estimated that the property and estate charges (excluding approved premises) will be about £62 million in 2003–04. The Home Office does not have precise information from probation boards about expenditure on property and estate charges in 2002–03. It is estimated that the costs in 2002–03 are about £52 million. The total budget of £62 million represents about 10 per cent. of the combined expenditure on the main service including training.
	It is estimated that the information technology costs will increase from £16 million to £21 million. Most of this increase is required to provide a superior network. The total budget of £21 million for boards represents 3.1 per cent. of the combined board expenditure on main service activities, hostels and training.

Substance Misuse

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on preventive measures to tackle the misuse of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) cannabis, (d) ecstasy, (e) amphetamines, (f) LSD, (g) heroin, (h) cocaine and (i) crack cocaine, in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 28 November 2002
	With regard to expenditure related to alcohol and tobacco I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears) to his question on 28 October 2002, Official Report, column 665W.
	Separate figures are not available for the different illicit drugs specified. The nature of the expenditure can however be broken down by purpose. Figures for planned preventative expenditure across Government on all illicit drugs for the period 2000–01 to 2002–03 as follows:
	preventing drug misuse by young people, including education, and early interventions which are particularly targeted at vulnerable young people—2000–01: £63 million, 2001–02: £92 million, 2002–03: £102 million;
	prevention of misuse by initiatives to disrupt trafficking and to reduce the supply of drugs—2000–01: £353 million, 2001–02: £373 million, 2002–03 : £376 million; and
	preventative initiatives to strengthen communities and reduce the impact on them of drug misuse—2000–01: £45 million, 2001–02: £139 million, 2002–03: £171 million.

Visa Conditions

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those granted visas to visit the UK, with conditions attached, failed to abide by those conditions in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001.

Beverley Hughes: Information on those people granted visas to visit the UK who failed to abide by the conditions of those visas in 2000 and 2001 is not available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

College Green Ticket Office

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the (a) budgeted and (b) outturn cost was of the College Green ticket office.

Archy Kirkwood: The budget for the College Green ticket office was £53,000. The outturn cost is forecast at £53,019.

New Palace Yard (Security Arrangements)

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost was of the new security arrangements in New Palace Yard.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) on 21 October 2002, Official Report, column 6W.

Westminster Hall Cafeteria

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what was (a) the capital cost and (b) the gross and net annual budgeted running cost of the Westminster Hall cafeteria in the last three years.

Archy Kirkwood: Westminster Hall Cafeteria has been closed since December 2000 while being converted into new visitor facilities, including a new café, lavatories and a lift for disabled access to the Grand Committee Room and other areas. No costs were therefore incurred after that date.
	There was no capital expenditure on the Westminster Hall Cafeteria in the two years before its closure.
	During the nine months April to December 2000, the actual gross running cost was £197,000; after a contribution from sales of £85,000, the net running cost for 2000–01 was £112,000.
	For the year April 1999 to March 2000, the actual gross running cost was £318,000; after a contribution from sales of £132,000, the net running cost was £186,000.
	Payroll budgets are not disaggregated, and so the budgeted gross and net annual running costs are not available.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

EU Equality Directives

Joyce Quin: To ask the Minister for Women what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the implementation of EU equality directives.

Patricia Hewitt: I have had no specific discussions with my EU counterparts on the implementation of EU equality directives.

Pay Differentials

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of the extent of differences in pay between men and women; and what her policy is towards it.

Patricia Hewitt: Since the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970, the pay gap has reduced from 37 per cent. to 19 per cent. today. We are tackling the various causes of this pay gap, in particular by helping mothers to balance work and family responsibilities.

Women (Public Life)

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Minister for Women how the work of her Department supports women in social enterprise.

Patricia Hewitt: Women already play an important part in social enterprises and DTI supports them through a wide range of activities. This will be strengthened through implementation of the Government's three year strategy for social enterprise, which I launched in July.

Women (Public Life)

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Minister for Women what progress she is making encouraging women to apply for posts on public bodies.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed).

Female Clergy

Huw Edwards: To ask the Minister for Women what representations she has received about granting employment rights for female clergy and ministers of religion.

Patricia Hewitt: We are currently engaged in a wide-ranging consultation on the issue of employment status, and have had discussions with representatives of the clergy, and different faith communities and religious organisations, on the issue of extending employment rights. We have not had specific representations concerning female clergy to date, in response to the consultation, though I am aware of the case of Norma McNab which my hon. Friend recently raised with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Retirement

Robert Syms: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of the amount of financial provision women have made for retirement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government's forthcoming Green Paper on pensions will address the impact and effectiveness of the pension system for women.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that women are not disadvantaged regarding pension provision and enjoy a decent income in retirement. We have already introduced a range of measures, including Stakeholder Pensions and State Second Pension to help with this.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Civil Service Review

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government will implement the recommendations contained in the review of the Civil Service.

Ian Pearson: The public consultation period of the recommendations of the independent review of the XAppointment and Promotion Procedures for the Senior Civil Service of the Northern Ireland Civil Service" ended on 31 October 2002.
	The detail of the responses received is currently being drawn together for consideration.

Supporting People

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that (a) charging and (b) means testing are not introduced for those in receipt of housing support services once the new Supporting People arrangements are put into place.

Des Browne: I am aware of the hon. Member's desire that everything should be done to avoid the need to introduce charging and means testing for housing support services. I am therefore currently exploring the potential for achieving this. However, it is clear that such a policy could be funded only by removing scarce resources from other spending priorities within the housing budget aimed specifically at improving the lives and general well-being of the most disadvantaged members of Northern Ireland's community.

University Research Grants

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants were given for research to (a) Queens University, (b) St. Mary's University College, (c) Stranmillis University College and (d) the University of Ulster in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for the last 12 months are not available; however, the recurrent research grant allocation for the financial year 2002–03 to the universities and university colleges was:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Queen's University 16.585 
			 St. Mary's University College - 
			 Stranmillis University College - 
			 University of Ulster 11.068 
		
	
	However, the Department for Employment and Learning also fund a number of special initiatives such as the Support Programme for University Research (SPUR) and the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) and estimated expenditure for the 2002–03 year is:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Queen's University 6.905 
			 St. Mary's University College - 
			 Stranmillis University College - 
			 University of Ulster 2.927

Waste Water Treatment Plant

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on future provision of a waste water treatment plant for Larne; and when it will come into operation.

Angela Smith: There is presently no waste water treatment facility in Larne. Untreated waste water from the town's combined sewerage system is discharged into the estuary of Larne Lough through short outfalls at Blackcave and Sandy Bay. This practice is unacceptable in today's environment and improved facilities need to be provided.
	Plans for the provision of treatment facilities for the area are well developed and include the construction of a new works to treat the waste water from Larne and the surrounding communities of Ballygalley, Drains Bay, Glynn and Magheramorne. The new works will be designed to comply with current legislation, including the Bathing Water and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directives. These Directives apply the same standards of treatment in Northern Ireland as are applied in the rest of the UK and throughout the European Union.
	The current proposals include a housed compact waste water treatment plant within the town on land reclaimed from Redlands Lagoon. Treatment is to include primary and secondary treatment. Current proposals can accommodate a further stage of treatment should it be necessary to meet the consent standards set. The proposed works will be procured on a design and build basis to a strict performance specification and a short-list of contractors deemed to be competent to undertake this project has been set up. However, the invitation to tender is conditional on full planning approval being given. A planning application for the waste water treatment works has been submitted and a decision from Planning Service is awaited. Larne borough council are still considering this planning application, but it is hoped to get their agreement in the near future. Environment and Heritage Service has proposed more stringent effluent quality standards and treatment of a higher proportion of storm flows, in accordance with their proposed new environmental policy for coastal waters, the Northern Ireland Coastal and Estuarine Waters Classification System (NICEWCS). Water Service is currently engaged in discussions with Environment and Heritage Service to agree appropriate discharge consent standards to meet all of the regulatory standards. In order that the planning application may proceed, Planning Service has arranged for agreement between EHS and Water Service on the effluent standards to be a condition on planning approval, and approval on this basis is expected shortly.
	Subject to the resolution of these matters, construction of the new waste water treatment works for Larne is scheduled to commence in September 2003. It will take two years to complete at an estimated cost of around £10 million.

PRIME MINISTER

Civil Protection

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Prime Minister if there is a Minister designated as having responsibility for civil protection.

Tony Blair: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 20 November 2002, Official Report, column 636.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Publications (Library)

Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Council if he will make it his policy that in cases where hon. Members request that ministers place publications in the Library, a copy of the material requested is automatically sent to the hon. Member in question.

Robin Cook: As Leader of the House, I want to modernise the House and to make sure that practices and procedures make it easy for Members to be fully informed.
	I am happy to endorse the practice of sending publications to Members who request copies to be placed in the Library of the House. The position remains that when informationis deposited in the Library for the first time, in response to a Parliamentary question a copy of the information should, wherever practical, be supplied to the Member at the same time. 1
	From time to time there may be good reason why information cannot be made public and a request to place it in the Library therefore cannot be accepted.
	1 Government response to the Ninth Report of the Public Administration Select Committee: Ministerial Accountability and PQs.

Private Members' Bills

Brian Iddon: To ask the President of the Council if he will review the £200 allocation from public funds under the Resolution of the House of 29 November 1971, to hon. Members who have secured one of the first 10 places in the Private Members' Bill ballot.

Robin Cook: I see no need for a review at present. While I accept that the value of a £200 allocation has been greatly eroded over time, I note that only four Members have made claims since April 1999.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the President of the Council what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books, newspapers or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain by departmental special advisers since June 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Robin Cook: My two special advisers joined the Department in July 2001 having both had a background in research. The information requested is set out as follows. The contents of the publications and presentations listed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.
	Meg Russell
	Publications:
	XWomen's Representation in the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales: Party Dynamics for achieving Critical Mass" (with Fiona Mackay and Laura McAllister), Journal of Legislative Studies, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 49–76.
	XWomen's Political Participation in the UK", Report published by the British Council, 2002. 1
	XResponsibilities of the Upper House: Constitutional and Human Rights Safeguards", Journal of Legislative Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 61–76. 1 , 2
	XThe Territorial Role of the Upper House", Journal of Legislative Studies, vol.
	7, no. 1, pp. 105–118. 1 , 2
	XWhat are Second Chambers for?", Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 54, no. 3, July 2001, pp. 442–458. ISSN 0031–2290. 1
	XThe Women's Representation Bill: Making it Happen", Report published by the Constitution Unit, University College London, July 200l. 1
	Presentations:
	XLa riforma costituzionale nel Regno Unito, senza una costituzione scritta, dal 1997 ad oggi" ('Constitutional reform in the UK since 1997, without a written constitution'), University of Siena, 1 July 2002.
	XIncreasing Women's Representation in Parliament: Lessons from Scotland, Wales and other recent UK developments", Fifth International Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, Wroxton College, Oxfordshire, 4 August 2002.
	Greg Power
	Publications:
	XMaking Government Accountable—The Report of the Hansard Society Commission on Parliamentary Scrutiny" Journal of Legislative Studies vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 1–12. 1
	XMaking Government Accountable" (with Alex Brazier), Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 54, no.3, pp.554–559. 1
	XReal Politics—the wicked issues: Constitutional change in Britain and South Africa" (with Richard Calland and Sean Jacobs) British Council/Idasa, December 2001. 1
	XPolitics with a Purpose: Reforming the House of Commons" (with Peter Riddell) in The Progressive Century: The Future of the centre-left in Britain, N. Lawson and N. Sherlock (Eds), Palgrave, July 2001. 1
	My Department does not have a Head of Information. When professional information services are required they are provided the Cabinet Office. The Publications and presentations listed above that were submitted after their authors joined the Privy Council Office were shown to, and cleared by, the Department's Director of Corporate Services.
	1 These publications were written and submitted prior to their authors joining the staff of the Privy Council Office, so departmental approval was not required.
	2 Also appeared as a chapter in the book XSecond Chambers", N. Baldwin and D. Shell (eds.), Frank Cass, 2001. ISBN 0714651443.

SCOTLAND

Agriculture Holdings Bill

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive about the human rights implications of an absolute right to buy land under the Agriculture Holdings Bill, and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have had no discussions with the Scottish Executive on this subject. The Bill in question is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Airport Firemen

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received on the strike by airport firemen in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have not received any representations on this issue. Industrial relations are a matter for the respective management and trade unions to resolve. I urge both sides to continue to work together constructively to reach a mutually acceptable solution which will avoid strike action. I understand that both unions are to ballot members on a revised pay offer from BAA.

Digital Television

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport relating to the impact of analogue switch-off; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend on a wide range of issues, including the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland. The Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form can receive them on digital systems, and switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people. We have consulted widely on this issue and details are available on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk.

Digital Television

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with OFCOM on the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have had introductory discussions with Lord Currie, Chairman of OFCOM on issues around the Communications Bill and its major interest for Scotland. In its UK wide role, OFCOM will have an overarching duty to take account of the interests of the nations and regions in all its activities. The regulatory functions of the new body will not take effect until the Communications Bill becomes law.

Digital Television

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and (b) the Scottish Executive relating to the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with colleagues and Scottish Executive Ministers on a wide range of issues, including the impact of analogue switch-off in Scotland. The Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form can receive them on digital systems, and switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people. We have consulted widely on this issue and details are available on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk.

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the country of residence of the members of the Friends of Scotland initiative.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 360W. The countries of residence of the current members of the Friends of Scotland network are as follows:
	
		
			 Country Number of Friends 
		
		
			 UK 48 
			 Australia 36 
			 USA 18 
			 Malaysia 11 
			 New Zealand 10 
			 Germany 10 
			 France 8 
			 Japan 8 
			 Canada 8 
			 Belgium 3 
			 Hong Kong 2 
			 Ireland 2 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 1 
			 Spain 1 
			 The Netherlands 1 
			 Italy 1 
			 Luxembourg 1 
			 Total 169

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Employment Rights

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what employment rights she estimates UK workers will have by 2007 that have changed since 1997.

Alan Johnson: In our first term, we introduced a foundation of decent minimum standards in the workplace. We are now building on this, so that by 2007, employees will, for example, have been given rights to a minimum wage, four weeks paid holidays and to proper information and consultation. They will also benefit from a range of family friendly policies, such as the right for parents of children under six to request flexible working, parental and paternity leave and improved maternity rights. They will also have access to fair discipline and grievance procedures and may not be discriminated against on grounds of age, disability, religion or sexual orientation, or because they are part-time or fixed term workers.

Employment Rights

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on changes to employment rights between 1997 and 2007.

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies).

Small Businesses

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small business start-ups there were in the last quarter of 2001.

Nigel Griffiths: Official data for the whole of the calendar year 2001 show that there were 175,455 VAT registrations in the UK. There is no comparable data on a quarterly basis. VAT start-up data are not collected by size of businesses.

DRAX Power Station

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the future viability of DRAX Power Station.

Brian Wilson: The viability of Drax Power Station is a commercial matter for the operators of that station, its customers and, if the security of electricity supply is concerned, the National Grid Company.

Business Taxes

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made on the impact of business taxes on companies' decisions to locate in the UK.

Alan Johnson: .According to the OECD, the UK has one of the lowest total tax burdens in the EU—far lower than the EU average. This has no doubt been an important factor in enabling the UK to take first place for share of EU total inward investment in 2001.

Small Business Sector

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prospects for the small business sector.

Nigel Griffiths: Small businesses play a vital role in the UK economy, contributing around £1 trillion each year. They provide new ideas, products and services and, most significantly, jobs. There are 3.7 million UK businesses and on average 998 of every 1,000 of them are small or medium sized.
	Prospects for the sector are encouraging, for example:
	The UK small business population has risen by over 50 per cent. since 1980. There is now one small business or sole trader for every 13 adults in the UK.
	Latest survival rates show that over 91 per cent. of businesses are now surviving one year after registration, with 65 per cent. surviving three years after registration.
	Only 1.1 per cent of active companies became insolvent in the 12 months ended Q3 (July to September) 2002.
	The SBS Omnibus Survey (2001–02) shows that the vast majority of small businesses are quite optimistic—over 80 per cent. of small firms say they are doing Xvery well" or Xwell".
	The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2001 also shows that the UK has a supportive environment for business start up and growth.
	24.

Small Business Sector

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on the small business sector.

Nigel Griffiths: The aim is to accelerate the drive towards ensuring the UK is, by 2005, the best place to start and grow a business and where:
	many more people want and have the opportunity to start a business;
	everyone with the ambition to grow is helped and supported;
	small businesses find it easy to respond to Government and access its services.
	Following DTI's recent cross-cutting review of business support, SBS' role has been re-focussed and enhanced, in particular it will:
	be a centre of expertise for Government on small business issues;
	be an innovator, pioneering new approaches across Government to meeting the needs of small business through better policy and high-quality services; and
	be an engine for change, demonstrating what can be done, measuring progress against outcomes in the market place, and taking action, at national, regional and local levels.
	SBS has developed a new framework for policy towards small business, which is based upon the key drivers for economic growth—improved productivity and a wider involvement in enterprise for all.
	The framework is built around seven themes, SBS is working with all its partners to build these into seven national strategies, which are:
	1. to build an enterprise culture.
	2. to encourage a more dynamic start-up market.
	3. to build the capability for small business growth.
	4. to improve access to finance for small businesses.
	5. to encourage more enterprise in disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups.
	6. to improve small businesses' experience of Government services.
	7. to develop better regulation and policy.

Coal Industry

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal she expects to be produced in the United Kingdom in 20 years' time.

Brian Wilson: The Department does not have forecasts for coal production in the UK in 20 years' time. Decisions on the level of output will be a matter for the relevant coal operators to determine in the light of future developments in markets, world prices, technology, regulatory requirements and geological conditions.

Manufacturing Strategy

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress she has made in the implementation of her manufacturing strategy.

Patricia Hewitt: The Manufacturing Strategy we published on 16 May identified seven key areas of activity necessary for manufacturing success. We have made significant progress in all of these areas to help manufacturers fulfil their potential in the UK.

Energy Efficiency

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role energy efficiency plays in the Department's energy policy.

Brian Wilson: We are committed to working with others to ensure competitive energy markets while achieving safe, secure and sustainable energy supplies. Energy efficiency plays a key role in moving to a more sustainable energy policy for the UK in both the short and long terms. Energy efficiency also contributes to social and security of supply objectives.

SMEs

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government's vision is that anybody with the talent, potential and drive to succeed in business has the opportunity and the necessary support to do so, regardless of their background. Government have an important role in creating a fertile business environment; addressing market failures; and ensuring that where it comes into contact with future entrepreneurs it encourages rather than hinders them.
	Measures already put in place and new developments announced in the pre-Budget report will take further steps towards attaining this goal, and the policy framework developed by the Small Business Service (SBS) will drive forward improvements in policy and service delivery.
	Government spends in the region of £2.5 billion a year on a wide range of services for small business. The Cross Cutting Review of business support set out a series of practical recommendations for driving up the quality and effectiveness of these services, with the aim of improving the customer experience for all small businesses.
	In addition, Spending Review 2002 provided the SBS with extra resources to help meet the challenges of its new role as a champion for small businesses across Whitehall. The Spending Review provided an additional £40 million by 2005–06, compared with 2002–03, to boost e-delivery of services, while the Phoenix Fund is also being extended by two years beyond March 2004 with an extra £50 million over 2004–05 and 2005–06 to promote enterprise in deprived areas.

Fireworks

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what review her Department is conducting of the need for legislation further to control the sale and use of fireworks.

Melanie Johnson: I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick), on 17 October 2002, Official Report, columns 889–90 announcing a package of measures to address problems caused by fireworks. This followed discussions with other Government Departments, enforcement authorities and the fireworks industry.

Fireworks

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to improve firework safety.

Melanie Johnson: The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. It also required compliance with British Standard 7114 and made it an offence to supply fireworks to those under 18 years of age.
	Also, I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 17 October 2002, Official Report, columns 889–90, announcing a package of measures to address problems caused by fireworks.

Launch Aid

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of launch aid.

Alan Johnson: The Government have been and continue to be supportive of the aerospace industry in the UK. Since 1997 we have committed nearly £1 billion in Launch Investment (previously known as Launch Aid) for major new large aircraft and engine projects.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 16 May this year the establishment of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), led by Sir Richard Evans. The IGT, as part of their remit, is considering medium to long-term strategic issues affecting the aerospace sector, including the future of Government support mechanisms. Sir Richard and his team are currently about halfway through their work and I expect the IGT to report by next spring with recommendations and an agreed action plan to take the industry forward.

Science Budget

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the allocation of science budget under the 2002 spending review.

Patricia Hewitt: I will be making a statement in due course.

Shipbuilding Industry

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken in the last month to help the British shipbuilding industry.

Alan Johnson: No new initiatives have been taken in the last calendar month. Nevertheless, Ministers continue to work closely with the shipbuilding and other marine manufacturing industries to enhance their own efforts to improve their competitiveness, productivity and employment.
	On 6 November, I chaired the regular meeting of the Shipbuilding and Marine Industries Forum where representatives of the companies, unions and other principal stakeholders reviewed progress against targets and activities in the Implementation Plan. This plan is a series of joint and individual initiatives aimed at improving sales, employment and profitability and having the commitment of all the major interests, not just Government.
	Throughout the month, progress continued on the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association's four-year programme of Xmaster classes" and academic studies to improve productivity (a project supported by a DTI grant of £2.8 million) as did a programme towards enhancing the marketing capabilities of merchant shipbuilders (again supported by a DTI grant of £175,000).
	In addition, the Engineering and Marine Training Authority was well into its six-month study (assisted by grants from the DTI and the Department for Education and Skills) into the availability of the skilled manpower that will be needed for future merchant and naval shipbuilding projects, especially the Future Aircraft Carriers.
	Finally, as part of our effort to tackle unfair competition in the shipbuilding market, the World Trade Organisation action against Korean unfair pricing, which we have strongly supported, was started.

War Assets (Redistribution)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of Lord Archer of Sandwell's committee on the redistribution of assets seized in World War Two.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him yesterday.

Energy Policy

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of environmental considerations in the formulation of the Government's energy policy.

Brian Wilson: The Government is currently carrying out a review of energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the New Year. Environmental considerations will be an important part of the White Paper. In particular greenhouse gas emissions will need to be reduced significantly during the 21st century, both globally and in the UK, if we are to avoid dangerous climate change and the energy system is crucial to that.

Public Match Funds

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of delivering of public match funds to EU objective one regions.

Alan Johnson: The Government have not carried out such an assessment, but are unaware of any current difficulties over the provision of public match funding to support projects in Objective 1 regions.
	Many of the sources of match funding are national programmes that respond to demand from the regions. In January 2002, the Government published a revised list of potential central Government sources of match funding in England. It is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/europe/mfl.htm on the internet.
	Administration of the EU structural funds in Wales, including issues relating to match funding, is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Aircraft Exports (Zimbabwe)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer given on 27 November (Ref. 83035), whether an export licence was granted in respect of spare parts for Hawk aircraft for export to a country other than Zimbabwe which have subsequently been exported to Zimbabwe, contrary to the conditions of the export licence.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 2 December 2002
	No.

Working Conditions Directive

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received concerning (a) the Working Conditions of Temporary (Agency) Workers Directive, (b) the Employment Status in Relation to Statutory Employment Rights Review and (c) the Employment Agencies Consultation on New Regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Department of Trade and Industry's public consultation on the proposed European Union Directive on the Working Conditions of Temporary (Agency) Workers has ended and written responses will be made available upon request. The Department is analysing the responses, which will help to inform assessment of the potential impact of the proposed Directive on UK workers and businesses.
	The public consultation on employment status in relation to employment rights will finish on 11 December and written responses will be made available upon request.
	On the proposed new regulations on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, the Department has received representations from the trade associations representing the private recruitment industry, workers' organisations, employers' bodies, employment agencies, individual work-seekers and other interested organisations. The responses are being considered and will be made available upon request.
	Ministers and officials have also had meetings with interested individuals and organisations as part of these consultations.

Clergy

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 with regard to the clergy.

Alan Johnson: We are currently engaged in a wide-ranging consultation on the issue of employment status, and have had, and are continuing to hold discussions with representatives of the clergy, and different faith communities and religious organisations, on the issue of extending employment rights to the clergy.

Climate Change

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) schemes and (b) organisations which address climate change to which her Department contributes funding to.

Brian Wilson: The Department contributes funding to various schemes and organisations that address climate change.
	It contributes to the work of the Research Councils on climate change, by funding through the Science Budget, particular programmes and activities run by the National Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
	The Department also assists the Tyndall Centre at the University of East Anglia which supports the work in nine research institutions to promote the understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change. The Tyndall Centre is funded by the National Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); and the Department contributes £210,000 over three years for the development of assistance to business on climate change causes and its consequences.
	In addition, the Department contributes funding to support the development of renewable energy and cleaner coal technology, which make a valuable contribution to addressing climate change. Such programmes and organisations include the Renewable Energy and Cleaner Coal R&D programmes, the Renewable Energy Capital Grants Programme, Renewables UK, the Community Renewables Initiative and the Renewable Energy Advice Centres (REACS) through the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

Developing Countries

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to promote and support the right of developing countries to provide targeted protection for their local producers to benefit from international trade.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government recognise that developing countries are at different stages of development. Within the WTO, we support the further development of Special and Differential Treatment provisions which will help all developing countries integrate into the world trading system. In addition, the Government believe that new WTO rules should reflect the implementation capacity of all WTO Members, particularly the developing and Least Developed Countries.

Electronic Trading

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999 to 2002, to make the UK the best place in the world to trade electronically.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 November 2002
	The results of the joint DTI/Office of the e-Envoy independent International Benchmarking Study 2002 has shown that the UK is now one of the world's leading environments for electronic trading—indeed the study ranks the UK as the second best environment in the world for e-commerce, behind only the US.
	This is a great achievement which the report attributes to the UK's low internet access cost, light touch regulatory environment, strong use of ICT in the education system, advanced venture capital markets and strong leadership of the agenda. UK broadband prices have reduced from among the most expensive in the G7 to among the cheapest.
	Around 73 per cent. of UK business, with 10 or more employees, are now connected to the internet, an overall increase of 16 per cent. year on year since the target was set. At present 46 per cent. of internet users are buying online, up from 28 per cent. two years ago. B2B (Business to Business) sales remain significantly higher than B2C (Business to Consumer) amounting to £10.9 billion in 2001, which amounts to a 36 per cent. year on year growth.
	To date there are over 1.1 million broadband subscribers. There were only 180,000 subscribers this time last year and there has been an increase in the number of companies using broadband. 18 per cent. businesses with 10+ employees have a broadband connection, compared to 8 per cent. at the end of 2000.

Employment Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) the Working Conditions of Temporary (Agency) Workers Directive, (b) the Employment Status in Relation to Statutory Employment Rights Review and (c) the Employment Agencies Consultation on New Regulations, on people engaged in interim management consultancy.

Alan Johnson: The Department published regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) on the proposed European Union Directive on the Working Conditions of Temporary (Agency) Workers and the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
	In developing policy on the proposed Directive and regulations on the conduct of employment agencies, the Department will take into account representations received during the public consultations about interim managers.
	A discussion document on employment status in relation to statutory employment rights was published on 11 July 2002. This document is not a proposal to legislate. It is seeking views on the justification for, and effects of, extending statutory employment rights to categories of working people currently excluded from them. The public consultation on employment status in relation to employment rights will finish on 11 December. If an outcome of the review was to propose new regulations, a regulatory impact assessment would be undertaken and there would be further consultation.

Energy Targets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 for achievement in 1999 to 2002 to maintain or improve (a) levels of energy security, diversity and sustainability and (b) competitive energy prices.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 November 2002
	The UK has access to a wide range of fuels and generally has a more varied and balanced supply than many other countries. The mix of fuels has become increasingly diverse, including through increasing use of renewable energy. The UK remains self-sufficient in energy, but is likely to become increasingly dependent on imports of gas. Competition in UK electricity and gas markets has contributed to lower prices. Data for 2001 suggests that UK industrial gas and electricity prices were the second and fourth lowest in the EU respectively. UK domestic gas prices in 2001 were the second lowest in the EU, while domestic electricity prices were the fourth lowest, based upon available data. By 2000, UK greenhouse gas emissions were 13 per cent. below their 1990 level. More detailed performance information is available in the Department's publication XEnergy: its impact on the environment and society" published in July, and will also become available in the Department's forthcoming publication on energy sector indicators.

French Nuclear Facilities

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to satisfy herself that (a) the normal emission levels from nuclear facilities on the northern coast of France and (b) the emergency procedures in place at nuclear facilities on the northern coast of France are consistent with proper protection of the UK environment.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Under Directive 96/29/Euratom, member states are required to ensure that discharges do not give rise to doses to members of the public which exceed the prescribed limits. The UK participates fully in the process through which these limits are determined. Each member state has an obligation for ensuring that these Euratom Community requirements are implemented in their national law, and for establishing facilities necessary to carry out continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil. The European Commission has the task of ensuring compliance with these requirements and has specific powers under which it can verify the operation and efficiency of the monitoring equipment around nuclear sites. The UK Government have no reason to believe that the European Commission has not been assiduous in fulfilling its enforcement responsibilities in France, or indeed, anywhere else in the European Union.
	In addition, under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, member states are required to submit general data to the European Commission relating to any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste so that the Commission can determine whether the plan is liable to result in radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another member state. France will have been required to submit such data to the Commission in respect of nuclear facilities on its northern coast and to satisfy the Commission that the disposal of waste from those facilities would not result in the radioactive contamination of any part of the United Kingdom.
	It is the responsibility of each member state to ensure that the operations undertaken at the civil nuclear installations on its territory comply with the requirements of the Euratom Basic Safety Standards (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom), which includes requirements concerning emergency preparedness. Emergency preparedness requirements are also included under Article 16 of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) to which both France and the UK are contracting parties. As stated above, the European Commission is responsible for monitoring compliance with obligations under the Euratom Treaty. Contracting parties to the CNS are subject to a three-yearly peer review of their responses to the requirements of the Convention. Both the UK and France participated in the last peer review meeting which was held in April 2002.

Leg-irons and Cuffs

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK firms that have traditionally manufactured over-sized cuffs and leg-irons been subjected to inspection and investigation by her Department in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 26 November 2002
	The Export Control Organisation's Compliance Officers visit holders of open licences to establish that the conditions of these licences are being met. One firm that manufactures over-sized handcuffs was visited by Compliance Officers in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
	Investigations into alleged breaches of UK export controls are the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of sales licensed electricity suppliers are obliged to obtain from renewable sources; and what proportion they will be obliged to obtain from renewable sources (a) by 1 April 2003 and (b) by 1 April 2011.

Brian Wilson: For the current year, the Renewables Obligation is set at 3 per cent. of total electricity sales from licensed electricity suppliers. This will rise to 4.3 per cent. for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, and to 10.4 per cent. for 2010–11 and subsequent periods. Suppliers may discharge their Obligation either by themselves supplying renewable electricity to customers in Great Britain, or by producing Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) purchased in the market, or by paying a buy-out price in place of all or part of their Obligation.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom came from renewable energy sources in (a) 2001 and (b) to date in 2002.

Brian Wilson: The proportion of electricity generated in the United Kingdom, in 2001 that came from renewable energy sources was 2.6 per cent. Complete data for 2002 will not be available until summer 2003. However, because generation from large scale hydro sources by major power producers in the first three quarters of 2002 was 1.6 TWh higher than in the corresponding period of 2001 and because large scale hydro generation accounts for over 40 per cent. of generation from renewables, it is anticipated that this recovery alone will have raised the renewables percentage in 2002.

Renewable Energy

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the provisions in force to ensure that exporters of renewable energy goods are protected against the risks of non-payment.

Patricia Hewitt: ECGD's full range of products is available to UK based capital goods exporters in the renewable energy sector. This includes:
	(i) export credit insurance providing cover against the risk of not receiving payment due to specified commercial or political risks.
	(ii) guarantee for loans arranged by UK banks to overseas borrowers to finance the purchase of capital goods and related services. These enable the exporter to offer credit to an overseas buyer while receiving cash payments via the lending bank.
	(iii) insurance against political risks for UK companies investing overseas.
	Credit insurance for such exports is also available from private sector providers.
	As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in September this year, from April 2003, ECGD will make available cover for at least £50 million of exports each year for projects in the renewables sector which meet its minimum risk standards.

Thailand

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has concluded a trade deal with Thailand with respect to (a) armaments and (b) poultry.

Nigel Griffiths: No trade deals have been concluded with Thailand in respect of armaments and poultry.

Universities

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 to increase by 50 per cent. the number of companies spun out by universities by 2001–02.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 November 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 119W.

TRANSPORT

Bus Lanes

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there is special provision for ministerial cars to use bus lanes in guidelines issued by his Department.

David Jamieson: The Departmental guidance, Local Transport Note 1/97— Keeping Buses Moving, makes no reference to specific categories of cars.

East Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he has visited east Lancashire in his official capacity; and what the purpose was of each visit.

John Spellar: None.

Future Development of Air Transport

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many completed questionnaires have been returned following the consultation paper (a) The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Midlands and (b) The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK: South East.

David Jamieson: To date, around 16,000 paper and 1,500 web questionnaires on the Midlands consultation have been returned. The corresponding figures for the south-east are 8,000 over 3,000 respectively.

Manchester Airport

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what throughputs were projected for Manchester Airport's second runway; and what the actual throughput is.

David Jamieson: It is estimated that by 2030 the throughput of Manchester Airport could range from 40 million passengers per annum (mppa) (if no new terminal capacity is provided) through to 70 mppa (if growth is facilitated and concentrated at Manchester). This equates to the runways handling between 300,000 and 440,000 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) per annum.
	In 2001, Manchester handled 19.1 million passengers and 182,000 ATMs.

Modes of Travel

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methods he uses to estimate the relative environmental impact of journeys by (a) train, (b) aeroplane and (c) ferry; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Environmental impact assessments of different transport modes take into account the full range of environmental matters, including air pollutants, CO2 emissions and noise, the length of journeys and the quantity and type of fuel consumed. There is also consideration of other local emissions sources, background levels of air pollution in the area and the extent to which emissions from the transport modes in question can be dispersed. The impact of infrastructure on the local environment is also assessed.

Rolling Stock

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of rolling stock is in each of the rail operating companies; and what proportion is (a) over 10-years-old, (b) over 20-years-old and (c) over 30-years-old.

David Jamieson: The table gives the average age of rolling stock for each train operating company. The proportion of stock over 10, 20 and 30-years-old is not readily available.
	
		
			 Company Average Age (years) 
		
		
			 Anglia Railways 25.12 
			 Arriva Trains Merseyside 23.50 
			 Arriva Trains Northern 12.54 
			 c2c 2.00 
			 Central Trains 10.92 
			 Chiltern Railways 8.67 
			 Connex South Eastern 19.89 
			 First Great Eastern 18.24 
			 First Great Western 27.70 
			 First North Western 15.27 
			 Gatwick Express 12.29 
			 Great North Eastern Railway 16.63 
			 Island Line 35.50 
			 Midland Main Line 21.26 
			 Scotrail 15.53 
			 Silverlink 17.56 
			 South West Trains 24.68 
			 South Central 28.95 
			 Thames Trains 11.50 
			 Thameslink 15.50 
			 Virgin Cross Country 17.84 
			 Virgin West Coast 32.44 
			 Wales and Borders 14.76 
			 Wessex Trains 15.80 
			 West Anglia Great Northern 19.23

Speed Cameras

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what type of (a) fixed speed cameras and (b) mobile speed cameras are in operation in the UK; and how much they cost.

Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on fixed site and mobile speed cameras used in the United Kingdom is not held centrally. All speed enforcement devices must, however, be type-approved by the Secretary of State in order for their evidence to be relied on in court proceedings. Devices currently type-approved, from among which police forces select their equipment, are listed in the table.
	The cost of the devices is a commercial decision for manufacturers and their agents, and this information is not held centrally.
	
		Speedmeters type-approved by the Secretary of State for police use
		
			  Approved from 
		
		
			 Mobile  
			  
			 Radar speed measuring devices  
			  
			 Kustom Falcon 31 July 1986 
			 The Gatso Mini Radar Mark 3 31 July 1986 
			 The Gatso Mini Radar Mark 4 31 July 1986 
			 Kustom HR 4 1 January 1987 
			 Kustom HR 8 1 January 1987 
			 Kustom Roadrunner 1 January 1987 
			 Muniquip K-GP 8 November 1989 
			 Kustom Cordless Falcon 31 October 1997 
			 Speedar SR1 10 February 1998 
			   
			 Light beam speed measuring devices (laser)  
			 The LTI 20.20 TS/M 1 November 1993 
			 The Kustom ProLaser II 18 September 1995 
			 The Kustom ProLaser III 21 October 2002 
			 The LTI 20.20 TS/M XSpeedscope" 1 April 1996 
			 Riegl LR90–235/P 16 October 1998 
			 Cleartone Stealth Speedlaser 5 May 1999 
			 Laser Data Interface (LDI) only when used in conjunction with Kustom ProLaser II 24 May 1999 
			 Also Autovision (AV3) when used in conjunction with both Kustom ProLaser II speed measuring device and the Laser Interface (LDI) 24 May 1999 
			 Unipar Urban Speed Ace 28 May 1999 
			 LTI 20.20 UltraLyte 100 15 July 1999 
			 Jenoptik LaserPatrol 15 October 1999 
			 Leica XV2 SpeedLaser 12 February 2001 
			 Autovelox 104/C-2 15 October 2001 
			 LASTEC Local Video System (for use with LTI 20.20 TS/M or LT1 20.20 TS/M XSpeedscope" only) 10 February 1998 
			 LaserCam Digital Camera System (for use with LTI 20.20 TS/M or LTI 20.20 TS/M XSpeedscope" only) 26 February 1998 
			 Gatsometer BV + AUS speed camera battery powered (commonly known as the XGatso Camera" 1 July 1992 
			   
			 Road sensors speed measuring devices1  
			 Micro Mercury 90500 9 August 1993 
			 Micro Mercury 92600 9 August 1993 
			 The SpeedMaster DS2 9 August 1993 
			 The Autovision 2 9 August 1993 
			 The Speedman Enforcement System 9 August 1993 
			 The Truvelo M4 Squared speed measuring device 9 August 1993 
			 The Truvelo Combi S 23 June 1997 
			 The Truvelo Combi S-mc Speed Camera System 15 April 1999 
			 Speed Master DS3 and Autovision 3 (AV3). Approved from same date and subject to the condition that it be used in conjunction with Speedmaster DS3 24 May 1999 
			   
			 Fixed  
			 Radar speed measuring devices  
			 Gatsometer BV + AUS speed camera mains (and a few battery powered and/or trailer mounted) (commonly known as the XGatso Camera") 1 July 1992 
			 The Serco Speed Enforcement System Type 1 with either the Techspan Systems Controlled Motorway Indicator Type 450EE or the Securite et Signalisation (SES) Controlled Motorway Indicator Type 450EE (M25 controlled motorway project) 24 May 1995 
			   
			 Road sensors speed measuring devices(5)  
			 The Traffiphot XS" speed detection device 11 March 1994 
			 The Truvelo Combi S 23 June 1997 
			 The Truvelo Combi S-mc Speed Camera System 15 April 1999 
			   
			 Distance over time measuring devices  
			 Speed Violation Detection Deterrent (SVDD) 1 April 1999 
		
	
	(5) Activated by means of sensors or cables on or near the surface of the road.
	Note:
	Some equipment can be used as either a mobile or a fixed site unit.

West Coast Main Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the completion date of the West Coast main line upgrade.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's draft strategy for the West Coast Route Modernisation project proposes substantial completion by 2006, though work in the Trent Valley, for which Transport and Works Act approvals are required, is planned to continue until 2008.

TREASURY

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the meeting between the Inland Revenue and the BCCI Staff Committee.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand that the Revenue are continuing their contacts with representatives of all parties to the proposed BCCI settlement with a view to clarifying the tax treatment as soon as possible.

Child Tax Credit

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of families in the Portsmouth, South constituency who will benefit from the child tax credit from April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Nine out of 10 families with children will be eligible for the child tax credit, to be introduced in April 2003. Estimates of the number of families with children in the Portsmouth, South constituency who will benefit from the child tax credit are not available; however, an estimated 650,000 families with children in the south east of England are expected to benefit from the child tax credit.

Insurance Industry

Andy King: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to institute an inquiry into the working of the insurance industry.

Ruth Kelly: We have no plans to institute a general inquiry into the working of the insurance industry. The Department of Work and Pensions will be undertaking a formal review of employers liability compulsory insurance and will announce details shortly.

Working Families Tax Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of the child care component of the Working Families Tax Credit there are in (a) England and (b) each region; what percentage of recipients of the child care component represents WFTC claimants in each region; and what percentage of recipients of the child care component represents households with children in each region.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest available figures appear in the following table.
	
		Families benefiting from the childcare tax credit(6) within Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC) or Disabled Person's Tax Credit (DPTC)
		
			 Government Office Region Total benefiting, May 2002 As a percentage of all families with children receiving WFTC or DPTC(7), May 2002 As a percentage of all families receiving Child benefit(8), August 2002 
		
		
			 England 138,836 13 2.3 
			 North East 6,679 9 2.1 
			 North West 25,985 13 3.0 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 16,092 11 2.6 
			 East Midlands 13,104 12 2.6 
			 West Midlands 17,166 12 2.6 
			 East 11,115 12 1 .7 
			 London 17,267 17 2.0 
			 South East 17,527 14 1 .8 
			 South West 13,813 12 2.4 
			 Region not identified 88   
		
	
	(6) The childcare tax credit gives help with eligible child care costs for children aged up to 15 (16 if disabled) at the September following the start date of the award.
	(7) WFTC and DPTC are available to families with children aged up to 16 at the start date of the award, or aged up to 18 and in full time non-advanced education.
	(8) Child benefit is available to families with children aged up to 16 (or 18 if in full time non-advanced education).
	Sources:
	Inland Revenue, Department of Work and Pensions; administrative data

Tax Credit Claims

Si�n Simon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to issue Regulations under section 42 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 relating to claims by persons subject to immigration control.

Dawn Primarolo: Regulations under section 42 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 will be made shortly.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Basic State Pension

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the arrangements and procedures are for deferring the basic state pension.

Ian McCartney: Entitlement to the state pension arises when a person attains state pension age but to be entitled they have to make a claim. They can put off claiming their state pension to earn increments. When they claim, each part of the state pension is increased by about 7.5 per cent. for each full year of deferral. The minimum period of deferral is seven weeks.
	Currently the maximum period for deferral is five years but from April 2010 there will be no time limit and the incremental rate will increase to about 10.4 per cent. for each full year.
	It is up to the individual to decide whether to claim their state pension at state pension age or to defer claiming. A person can choose to defer either by writing to the Pension Service to request deferral or by not returning their claim for a state pension.

Lone Parents

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of lone parents are (a) in full-time employment, (b) in part-time employment, (c) in education, (d) on a training scheme, (e) unemployed and (f) claiming sickness benefits.

Nick Brown: The information requested is in the tables. As these categories are not comprehensive or exclusive there will be some lone parents counted in more than one category and some that are not included in any.
	
		
			 Data from the spring 2002 labour force survey Percentage of lone parents 
		
		
			 Full time employment(9) 29.1 
			 Part time employment(9) 24.5 
			 In education(10) 12.7 
			 On a training scheme 1.1 
			 Unemployed 6.6 
		
	
	(9) Full time employment is classified as work of at least 30 hours on average per week. Part time employment is classified as work of less than 30 hours on average per week.
	(10) The percentage of lone parents in education is taken as those lone parents enrolled in some type of formal education; this includes both part time and full time education as well as those enrolled on courses and not attending and those enrolled and not revealing their work status
	
		
			 Data from Family Resources Survey(11)200102 Percentage of lone parents 
		
		
			 Claiming sickness benefits(12),(13) 8 
			 Of which  
			 Incapacity benefits 2 
			 Sickness benefits 7 
			 Statutory sick pay 1 
		
	
	(11) In the FRS benefit receipt is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to mis-reporting.
	(12) XSickness benefits comprises all lone parents claiming at least one of the following: DLA, War disablement pension, Severe disability allowance, Disabled persons tax credit, Attendance allowance, Industrial injury disablement benefit, Disabled person's tax credit.
	(13) Lone parents claiming one type of sickness benefit may also be in receipt of other sickness or incapacity benefits, hence the percentage of lone parents claiming any type of sickness benefits is smaller than the sum of those claiming each type of benefit.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data is collected on the number of persons who have entered the New Deal gateway more than once; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The New Deal for Young People and the New Deal 25 plus are the only New Deals that have a gateway period. The New Deal Evaluation Database contains details of each spell a person has spent on gateway.
	At September 2002, 776,800 people had started on the gateway of the New Deal for Young People programme (629,920 individuals). Of these 126,410 clients (20 per cent. of all individual gateway starters) have entered the gateway more than once.
	At September 2002, 508,380 people had started on the gateway of the New Deal 25 plus (383,580 individuals). Of these 97,560 clients (25 per cent. of all individual gateway starters) have entered the gateway more than once.
	Source
	New Deal Evaluation Database.

Voluntary Sector

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the impact of the voluntary sector on the labour market.

Nick Brown: We recognise the value of the voluntary sector to the community and have recently laid before Parliament draft regulations that should make it easier for people out of paid employment and claiming jobseeker's allowance to make a greater commitment to volunteering.